Lungs of British patient recover almost 90%

PSNews - Luong Ngoc Khue, Director of the Ministry of Health’s Medical Examination and Treatment Department on June 18 informed, the patient’s lungs of British pilot, Vietnam’s most critically ill COVID-19 patient, known as patient 91 have recovered almost 90%, while his heart, livers and kidneys function normally.

Director Khue said the Britist pilot currently can get up and turn around in bed. His hands can move normally and he has used a mobile phone to talk to his friends for nearly a week. Additionally, he is still practicing walking with assistance from medical workers.

The patient can breathe unaided and doesn’t need a lung transplant. If he keeps recovering, he can even return to work as a pilot, Luong Ngoc Khue emphasized.

Patient 91 showing Director Khue his gift from a close friend.
Patient 91 showing Director Khue his gift from a close friend. 

The British pilot was confirmed to have contracted the SARS-CoV-2 virus on March 18. After being admitted to hospital, his health suddenly deteriorated and he needed ECMO, a life support machine.

Two months after falling in coma, the patient began to stay conscious and make a miraculous recovery. He has been disconnected from a ventilator for six days and feeds himself by mouth now.

According to experts, although the British pilot is making amazing progress, he still needs more time to recover completely.

The same day, the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control has requested that epidemic prevention and control agencies nationwide move to heighten their vigilance against a potential second wave of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) that is hitting Asia.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long went on to request that relevant agencies remain vigilant and are ready to cope with any new scenario as the country moves into a new normal situation as it attempts to realise the dual goals of both combating the epidemic and boosting socio-economic development.

The steering committee maintained that a declaration of the end of the epidemic should be seriously considered, since Vietnam still has only a few COVID-19 patients under treatment while it continues to allow foreign experts and highly skilled workers to enter the country.

By Linh Bui

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