Dengue outbreak risks remain despite fall in new cases

Although the number of dengue fever cases in Vietnam in the first months of this year posted a year-on-year decrease of 41.4 per cent, there remain numerous latent risks of the disease to break out, according to the Department of Preventive Medicine.

A health worker sprays anti-mosquito chemicals. (Photo: VNA)

Since the beginning of this year, the country recorded 20,522 dengue fever cases with four deaths in the central province of Khanh Hoa and the southern province of Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc and Ca Mau, down 41.4 per cent in the number of new cases and eight fatalities compared with the same period of 2017.

However, the northern region is in summer and the rainy season begins in the central, Central Highlands and southern regions, which are favourable conditions for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes which carry the virus to reproduce and grow.

Therefore, if localities do not take precautious measures, the disease will break out easily, the department stressed.

According to the department, at the beginning of this year, the Health Ministry organised a meeting with 63 provinces and cities and ministries and sectors to intensify dengue prevention work in 2018.

The ministry also asked localities to organise activities in response to ASEAN Dengue Day on June 15^th. To date, 19 localities have issued documents steering the organisation of response activities.

The ministry will also organise eight delegations to inspect the dengue prevention work in 16 key cities and provinces.

The ministry recommended that the most effective preventive way is to kill mosquitoes and larvae and eliminate their shelters, and cover all water containers.

It is also necessary to protect themselves from mosquito by sleeping in mosquito nets and spray anti-mosquito chemicals.

Dengue is a viral infection transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito, with no specific vaccine and treatment established to date.

Vietnam experienced a boom of dengue fever in 2017 when 181,054 infection cases and 30 deaths were reported in almost all localities, mostly Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City./.

VNF/VNA