Patient 91 – symbol of Vietnam’s pandemic success

According to the article, “Vietnam’s most seriously ill COVID-19 patient, a British pilot who at one point seemed close to death, left hospital on Saturday on his way home after a dramatic recovery that attracted national attention.”

“The case of Stephen Cameron, a pilot for national carrier Vietnam Airlines, became a sensation in Vietnam, where a combination of targeted testing and an aggressive quarantine programme has kept its coronavirus tally to an impressively low 370 cases, and zero deaths.”

“At one point, medical officials said Cameron, initially identified only as “Patient 91”, had just 10% of his lung capacity and was in critical condition. With the vast majority of Vietnam’s COVID-19 patients already recovered, the news of a potential first death prompted a national outpouring of support, with dozens of people coming forward as potential lung donors,” the article added.

It confirmed that the patient recovered thanks to day and night care from Vietnamese medical staff. “Cameron’s illness and the highly publicised efforts of Vietnam’s doctors to save him became a symbol in Vietnam of the country’s successful fight against the virus.”

News about patient 91 being treated successfully and returning home, and Vietnam’s success in fighting COVID-19, were also covered on the UK BBC news and France’s AFP news on July 12^th./.