Recently, although some infectious diseases have been brought under good control, the risk of outbreaks remains due to erratic weather and low awareness of preventive measures among some members of the public...
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| Medical staff at the Provincial Center for Disease Control vaccinate people against dengue fever. Photo: Hanh Dung |
Therefore, the health sector and local authorities are vigorously implementing proactive disease prevention and control measures at the community level to protect public health and reduce the number of infections and deaths caused by diseases.
Persistent risk of outbreaks
According to the Department of Disease Prevention under the Ministry of Health, dangerous infectious diseases such as dengue fever (DF), hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), and seasonal influenza continue to circulate nationwide. Since the beginning of 2026, the whole country has recorded more than 25,500 cases of DF, double the figure from the same period last year, with four deaths; more than 15,800 cases of HFMD, up 3.6 times year-on-year, also with four fatalities. More than 14,600 influenza cases have been reported, showing a downward trend. Other serious diseases, including rabies, have also caused sporadic deaths.
Notably, although the newly emerging Nipah virus disease has not yet entered Vietnam, the health sector has proactively developed response plans, especially by strengthening surveillance at border gates and medical facilities.
In Dong Nai, according to Dr. La Van Dau, Director of the Provincial Center for Disease Control (Dong Nai CDC), in the past week, some diseases, such as DF, HFMD, and measles, recorded fewer cases than the previous week. Nevertheless, the situation remains complex and could lead to an outbreak if not well controlled.
In Bien Hoa, an area with a large population and rapid urbanization, the risk of disease outbreaks is even higher due to environmental conditions, crowded boarding houses, and limited disease prevention awareness among some people.
Dr. Do Minh Quang, Director of Bien Hoa Regional Medical Center, said: Since the beginning of 2026, the entire area has recorded 444 cases of DF and 579 cases of HFMD. Wards with a high number of cases include Long Binh, Tran Bien, Tan Trieu, Tam Hiep, Trang Dai, and Long Hung.
Meanwhile, communes with dense populations, numerous industrial zones, and many boarding houses, such as Trang Bom commune, also face many difficulties in controlling infectious diseases. Dr. Le Van Cuong, Director of Trang Bom Commune Health Station, said: Since the beginning of 2026, the entire commune has recorded 64 cases of HFMD and 35 cases of DF. In addition to erratic weather, the commune has faced several difficulties in disease surveillance and case investigation. Some cases have unclear addresses, with no house numbers, hamlet names, or household head names, unreachable phone numbers, or, even when contact is made, the patient's family does not cooperate in case investigation and reporting.
Strengthening disease prevention and control measures
Given the unpredictable developments of the epidemic, recently, Dong Nai CDC Director La Van Dau inspected the actual disease prevention and control work in some localities in the province. At the visited locations, Dr. La Van Dau requested that commune and ward health stations actively advise the leaders of commune and ward People's Committees to direct specialized departments and mass organizations in the area to coordinate closely with the health stations to strengthen disease prevention and control. First, promote propaganda in various forms to help people understand the importance of disease prevention and control, as well as the dangers posed by certain diseases. Thereby, people are encouraged to proactively implement measures to protect their own health, their relatives, and the community.
Statistics from the Department of Disease Prevention under the Ministry of Health show that Dong Nai is the 5th largest locality in terms of dengue fever outbreaks among the 9 provinces and cities in the Southern region, after Tay Ninh, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, and Ca Mau provinces.
In addition, the Dong Nai CDC’s leader requested that localities prepare sufficient supplies and chemicals, strengthen case investigation and surveillance, and promptly handle disease outbreaks in the area to prevent the spread of the disease.
Dr. Tran Van Thi, Specialist Level I, in charge of the Loc Quang Commune Health Station in Dong Nai Province, shared: Although it is currently the dry season, the dengue fever situation in the commune is still complicated. Since the beginning of 2026, the entire commune has recorded 33 cases with 14 outbreaks. To prevent the spread of the disease, the health station organized large-scale mosquito spraying. At the same time, it promoted propaganda to inform people that there is currently no specific treatment for dengue fever. To prevent the disease, people should get vaccinated, kill mosquitoes and their larvae, and keep their living and working areas clean and well-ventilated. If there are symptoms such as sudden high fever, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, loss of appetite, etc., they should seek medical attention promptly for timely examination and treatment.
Nguyen Thi Minh, Principal of Tan Phong 2 Kindergarten in Tan Trieu Ward, said the school pays special attention to hygiene and disease prevention for students. All children's toys are washed with soap and dried. Children are instructed to wash their hands thoroughly with soap before eating, after using the toilet, and after playing. The top priority is to prevent children from contracting diseases.
Mai Thu Huyen (in Tam Hiep Ward) confided: She had dengue fever twice, and each time she had to be hospitalized for a long time. Recently, she and her two young children went to the Vaccination Center for Children and Adults (VNVC Dong Nai, Tam Hiep Ward) to receive dengue fever vaccinations. In addition, all three of Huyen's family members also get annual flu vaccinations.
By Hanh Dung – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho
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