The Preventive Medicine Department said it has set up four teams to assist authorities in 12 southern and central provinces in combating the hand, foot and mouth (HFM) and dengue epidemics that have broken out.
The Preventive Medicine Department said it has set up four teams to assist authorities in 12 southern and central provinces in combating the hand, foot and mouth (HFM) and dengue epidemics that have broken out.
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| Hand-foot-mouth disease remains complex |
The teams, who will work with the Institute of Hygiene Epidemiology and Pasteur Institute in HCM City, have also intensified investigation of HFM’s epidemiology and are taking samples to observe a new virus that is causing the current outbreak.
The department’s latest figures show that more than 21,200 people nationwide have contracted dengue fever this year, with 21 dying.
The number of children with HFM throughout the country has increased to more than 18,800 of whom 52 have died.
Dr Nguyen Van Binh, the department head, said southern provinces were the worst hit by HFM.
HCM City has reported the largest number of fatalities with 20, followed by the provinces of Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Quang Ngai, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.
At the city Paediatric Hospital No.1, there are three to four children to a bed.
On Thursday the hospital was treating 180 children for HFM, including 30 who were in serious condition and placed on respirators.
Dr Truong Huu Khanh, the ward chief, said nearly 90 children were admitted every day, more than half of them were from other provinces.
At the Paediatric Hospital No.2, the number of children arriving daily has increased to 180.
In the city’s District 8, 15 out of 16 public kindergartens have closed until the beginning of August as a precaution.
Binh said the incidence of HFM and deaths have been rising around the country for the last two months.
While around 10,000 people had contracted the disease in the first half of last year, the number had risen by half this year, he said.
Most of the deaths were of kids aged less than nine, he said.
Because of the disease’s increasing incidence and number of deaths, the Ministry of Health had placed the disease in a watch list, he said.
Southern Bac Lieu Province has also seen a breakout of the epidemic, with 129 children contracting the disease and two dying.
The province closed one kindergarten after three children were infected, Dr Nguyen Van Minh, head of the local Preventive Medicine Centre, said.
Can Tho City and the provinces of Dong Thap, Da Nang, Quang Ngai, and Thanh Hoa have also reported outbreaks, with hospitals overloaded and facing a shortage of medical staff.
(Source: VNS)
