More than 136,000 people have so far this year tested positive for the dengue virus in Vietnam, including 45 deaths, the Ministry of Health reported (MoH).
More than 136,000 people have so far this year tested positive for the dengue virus in Vietnam, including 45 deaths, the Ministry of Health reported (MoH).
 |
| Most cases of dengue have been reported in the south. (Photo: Ministry of Health) |
The outbreak has mainly spread across southern provinces, with Ho Chi Minh City topping localities in infection numbers, followed by Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, An Giang, Long An and Dong Thap.
Ho Chi Minh City also took the lead in the number of deaths, registering 10 cases, followed by Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, Binh Phuoc, Dong Thap and Vinh Long, all in the south.
The Government late last month issued a telegram, requesting localities to strengthen prevention and control measures against dengue fever and other infectious diseases.
The MoH also requested local health departments to pool resources and purchase Dextran, a high molecular solution used for severe dengue cases, for treatment. The medicine is currently imported into Vietnam.
According to Dr. Nguyen Luong Tam, the World Health Organization estimates that about half of the world’s population is at risk and between 100-400 million cases of dengue are reported each year. The number of dengue cases has increased 30-fold over the past half century, and doubled in the past decade alone.
