Ho Chi Minh City asked to keep track of disease developments (Source: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City needs to monitor infectious diseases and take measures to prevent cross-infections, avoiding a large-scale outbreak, a health official has said.
Director of the Ministry of Health’s Preventative Medicine Department Tran Dac Phu made the request during a field-trip to HCM City on July 5 to inspect disease prevention work in the locality.
According to the municipal Department of Health, the city recorded 9,141 dengue fever cases in the last two quarters, up 11 percent against the same period last year, with three fatalities.
The city also had 21 cases of Zika virus infection, 13 of whom were pregnant women. A total of 2,032 hand-foot-mouth disease patients were also reported in the city in the period.
Along with the increase of diseases, overloading in hospitals also poses difficulties for the municipal health sector.
Phu said hospitals are likely to face high risk of cross-infections, and if the situation lasts, overloading in hospitals will become more severe.
Phu attributed the complicated development of diseases in HCM City to climate change and population shifts.
He asked agencies to prepare for emergency situations.
Meanwhile, Director of the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City Phan Trong Lan said mosquitoes are the main infectious agent of contagious diseases such as dengue fever, Zika virus-related diseases and Japanese encephalitis.
The municipal authority should prepare solutions to the issue, focusing on killing mosquitoes and mosquito larvae, raising awareness of locals and calling for their involvement in the work.-VNA
Director of the Ministry of Health’s Preventative Medicine Department Tran Dac Phu made the request during a field-trip to HCM City on July 5 to inspect disease prevention work in the locality.
According to the municipal Department of Health, the city recorded 9,141 dengue fever cases in the last two quarters, up 11 percent against the same period last year, with three fatalities.
The city also had 21 cases of Zika virus infection, 13 of whom were pregnant women. A total of 2,032 hand-foot-mouth disease patients were also reported in the city in the period.
Along with the increase of diseases, overloading in hospitals also poses difficulties for the municipal health sector.
Phu said hospitals are likely to face high risk of cross-infections, and if the situation lasts, overloading in hospitals will become more severe.
Phu attributed the complicated development of diseases in HCM City to climate change and population shifts.
He asked agencies to prepare for emergency situations.
Meanwhile, Director of the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City Phan Trong Lan said mosquitoes are the main infectious agent of contagious diseases such as dengue fever, Zika virus-related diseases and Japanese encephalitis.
The municipal authority should prepare solutions to the issue, focusing on killing mosquitoes and mosquito larvae, raising awareness of locals and calling for their involvement in the work.-VNA
