The number of swine flu fatalities in Vietnam has risen to 35, after the Health Ministry confirmed two more deaths on Tuesday.
This time a 41-year-old man from central Danang and a 27-year-old man from the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak died after contracting the virus.
As of Tuesday, Vietnam has officially reported 10,512 cases of swine flu, including 35 fatalities.
According to the Ministry of Health, pregnant women and children made up largest number of fatal cases over the past 15 days.
Heath experts said the high rate of flu infections led to a higher death toll but also blamed the slow administering of antiviral drugs as another chief contributor.
Most of the pregnant women were treated with Tamiflu after 3-6 days of falling ill; while an estimated 15 other fatal cases were treated with drug after nine days.
Experts said it is “too late” for the drug to be effective as swine flu patients need to be given Tamiflu within 48 hours of experiencing flu symptoms.
The health ministry previously asked all hospitals to treat patients with flu-like symptoms with Tamiflu before testing for influenza A (H1N1) virus, but several fatal cases seemingly fell through the cracks.
According to the World Health Organization, most people who contract pandemic influenza suffer only mild symptoms before recovery without treatment, but children, pregnant women and those with some existing health conditions are vulnerable to a more severe attack or even death.
Vietnam has recorded at least one swine flu fatality daily since Sept.19.
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