Spraying chemicals to kill mosquito larva (Photo: VNA) Khanh Hoa (VNA) – The number of dengue fever cases in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa has reduced, but serious ones increased although this has yet been the peak season of the disease, according to local health authority.
They added that the province is recording the biggest number of cases in the central region.
As of July 17, the province reported 6,942 cases, up five times against the same period last year, including one fatality in April, as well as detected and handled over 340 outbreaks, up eight times year-on-year.
According to the provincial centre for disease control, this year is witnessing an abnormal development of dengue fever.
In previous years, the peak season often fell in September and October, then gradually declined in the remainder of the year.
However, in 2019, dengue fever developed strongly in the early months. From January to March, the province recorded between 1,040 and 2,230 cases per month, up eight times year-on-year.
From April to June, the number of cases reduced to 490 – 600 per month, up five times.
In the first three weeks of July, Khanh Hoa reported 550 cases.
Director of the Khanh Hoa Hospital for Tropical Diseases Nguyen Dong said the development of dengue fever in the hospital is quite complicated.
In July, each day, the hospital receives around 15 cases. Though there is no sudden increase in the number of cases compared to the previous months, most are serious with high risk of complications and death, he said.
Therefore, the treatment and control of the disease have become difficult, he added.
Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Health Nguyen Dinh Thoan called on people to proactively prevent the spread of the disease by keeping the environment clean and spraying chemicals to kill mosquito larva.
According to the Ministry of Health, since the beginning of 2019, the country has recorded over 80,000 dengue cases, tripling that of the same period last year. Six deaths were reported so far.
The highest number were reported in Khanh Hoa, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Binh Duong, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Ninh Thuan and Dong Nai.
Vaccine for dengue fever has only been tested in a number of countries and yet to be available in Vietnam.-VNA
VNA
