Officials issue dengue warning

HA NOI — The health ministry has warned residents to take measures to prevent contracting dengue fever during the next two months.

Deputy head of the ministry's Preventive Medicine Department Dr Nguyen Van Binh warned people in the country's flood-hit central region to take extra precautions, including exterminating mosquitoes, maintaining a hygienic environment and covering water jars.

The ministry reported that there had been more than 78,000 dengue fever cases so far this year, including 59 deaths. Last year there were four reported deaths that were caused by the disease.

More than 21,600 cases have been documented in the country's central region, a year-on-year increase of 167.9 per cent.

An average of 400 dengue fever cases are reported each week in HCM City.

Director of HCM City Pasteur Institute Tran Ngoc Huu said the wet season has created favourable living conditions for mosquitoes to breed.

Nearly half of the city's 322 communes and wards have experienced dengue fever outbreaks during the past three months.

Dr Binh said all four virus types that cause the disease had been found in the country.

The doctor said that anyone could contract dengue fever and the disease could cause serious side effects, including internal bleeding, vomiting blood or brain haemorrhages and even death without prompt treatment.

An area is designated as a dengue fever epidemic zone if two residents contract the disease within 14 days and if mosquitoes are discovered carrying the dengue virus, according to the health ministry. — VNS

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Health officials issue dengue fever warning

Preventing the multiplication of mosquito larvae is key to controlling the spread of dengue fever, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health reiterated at a workshop Wednesday.

Department officials expressed concern that the incidence of the fever had risen over the last several months and several localities were not taking preventive measures in a timely and effective manner.

Le Truong Giang, deputy head of the department, said that the preventive health centers in city districts had to guide grassroots administrations in spraying chemicals to kill mosquitoes and prevent their larvae from multiplying.

Companies, schools, offices, public spaces and residential areas were still to focus adequately on these tasks, he said.

The city would spray chemicals three times this month, he said, adding local authorities should encourage residents to implement preventive measures at least once a week.

The city's Preventive Medicine Center has said that the number of patients with fever dengue has steadily increased over the last three months.

From 633 patients in July, the number increased to 1,133 in August and 1,624 in September.

As many as 166 out of 322 communes and wards, or almost 50 percent, have recorded increasing number dengue fever patients, accounting for 80 percent of the city's total.

In September alone, the number of dengue patients rose by more than 400 each week.

Nguyen Dac Tho, deputy head of the city's Preventive Medicine Centre, said the number would continue to increase as timely steps were not taken.

Measles vaccinations

Tho also announced at the workshop a plan on vaccinating children for measles.

Under the plan, nearly 600,000 children between one and six years old will be vaccinated next month.

The department will co-operate with the Department of Education and Training to vaccinate children at schools from November 1-25.

There are an estimated 400,000 school-age children in the city. Children not of school-going age will get their measles shots at health clinics in their communes and wards.

Tho asked preventive medicine centers at districts as well as at communes and wards to ensure residents are aware of the measles vaccination program so that it is implemented effectively.

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