Perspectives

Dealing with air pollution and disease risks

ORIGINAL January 9, 2025 05:30

We are facing two health problems: air pollution and HMPV epidemics that are increasing dramatically in neighboring China.

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Many people are concerned about the risk of another health crisis after Covid-19, from the Metapneumovirus epidemic in China (illustration)

The air quality in Hai Duong in recent days has been continuously at the purple warning level (very unhealthy) and red warning level (bad), the PM2.5 fine dust index is also very high. The worst time for air quality is early morning, when many outdoor activities take place when people go to exercise, go to work, go to school, etc. It is worth mentioning that this pollution season is forecast to continue until March.

According to the World Health Organization and research, air pollution increases the risk of acute respiratory infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, cardiovascular disease, stroke and cancer. In addition, exposure to air pollutants can cause skin damage, eye diseases, and impact the nervous system, immune system, etc.

The effects of air pollution can be seen clearly in sensitive groups such as children and the elderly. For healthy people, air pollution can have a gradual effect over a long period of time. Therefore, many people do not really care and do not have effective measures to protect themselves and their families from the current severe air pollution situation.

In addition to air pollution, information about a Covid-19-like disease that has emerged in China in recent days has made many people worried. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that the number of cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection, which has symptoms similar to influenza and Covid-19, has increased significantly in the country at the beginning of winter. Children under 5 years old, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are all high-risk groups for contracting the virus. There is currently no vaccine or specific medicine for HMPV.

Several countries such as Malaysia, Cambodia, and India have issued warnings about this disease, although China has reported that this is a regular epidemic that occurs every year. The Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health of Vietnam) is also monitoring and supervising information about the development of respiratory diseases in China amid the chaos of information on social networking sites about the level of danger and the overload of Chinese hospitals.

With the strong trade between Vietnam and China and the long Lunar New Year holiday coming up, the risk of this epidemic appearing in our country is very likely. Therefore, every citizen needs to "activate" the disease prevention mode right now, especially when this virus has previously appeared in Ho Chi Minh City.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, many people have gotten into the habit of wearing masks when traveling and in certain environments such as hospitals and polluted areas. It is necessary to maintain this habit by using good masks.

And to prevent this epidemic, we need to immediately take simple but very useful measures that we have mastered during the Covid-19 epidemic: washing hands regularly, avoiding crowded places, and wearing masks properly.

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Dealing with air pollution and disease risks