Vietnam reports 2 Covid-19 deaths in Ho Chi Minh City as new variant spreads

The southern metropolis recorded 79 new Covid-19 cases over the past week, up significantly from just one or two weekly cases in April. The total number of infections so far this year stands at 204, though still 43% lower than the same period in 2024.

Nguyen Van Vinh Chau, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Health, on May 30 said both fatalities involved patients with multiple severe underlying conditions.

One was a 53-year-old man with acute myeloid leukemia, septic shock, pneumonia and a history of tuberculosis. The other was a 46-year-old woman suffering from diabetes, hypertension, necrotizing pneumonia and kidney infection. Both died while having Covid-19.

At the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, six Covid-19 patients have been treated since January, all with mild symptoms. Among them was a 66-year-old woman undergoing chemotherapy, who developed respiratory failure despite being previously infected and fully vaccinated. Her condition has since stabilized.

Genome sequencing has identified the NB.1.8.1 variant as the dominant strain circulating in the city. The Omicron sub-lineage has been reported in at least 23 countries and territories, and is associated with a rise in global infections. However, the World Health Organization says it does not significantly evade immunity or cause more severe illness.

With Covid-19 cases rising nationwide, Vietnam's Ministry of Health has urged the public to remain vigilant, especially as the summer travel season brings increased mobility and large gatherings, which could further fuel transmission.