No new swine flu cases during Tet: health ministry

Vietnam has recorded no new H1N1 flu cases during the Tet Lunar New Year Festival so far despite earlier concern over the virus’s spread, health officials said Tuesday.

The H1N1 virus was previously feared to spread during Vietnam’s traditional New Year due to increasing travel rates and public gatherings.

Since it was first detected here last May, swine flu had attacked 11,186 people and killed 58, according to statistics from the Ministry of Health.

Avian influenza, otherwise known as H5N1, was detected in seven provinces in the country, but no human cases of the virus were reported during the holiday, the ministry said.

The ministry also said casualties caused by accidents during Tet so far fell 14.2 percent from the same period last year, with traffic casualties down 21 percent.

Source: VNA