Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has instructed health officials to take firm measures to combat dengue fever, which has claimed 42 lives so far this year out of 55,400 cases reported nationwide.
Dung asked provincial and municipal People's Committee chairmen to mobilise all available forces to mitigate the spread of the disease and to closely monitor affected areas to prevent the further spread of the disease.
The Prime Minister instructed health officials to send aid and personnel to affected localities, where they will assist and inspect the implementation of measures to stamp out the disease.
Local health clinics have been required to prepare essential prescriptions and equipment to promptly treat dengue fever patients to prevent potential fatalities.
The PM asked the Ministry of Information and Communications to improve public awareness about preventive measures and counter inaccurate information about dengue fever.
He urged the Ministry of Education and Training to mobilise pupils nationwide to join campaigns to kill mosquitoes - the main carrier of the disease - in their houses and public places.
Dung also asked for the establishment of a steering committee for dengue fever prevention and control at all levels during the 24 hours following a reported outbreak.
The PM would consider the establishment of the national steering committee following suggestions from the health ministry, while People's Committee chairmen will be responsible for determining the establishment of committees at provincial level.
The Health Ministry reported that there was a high possibility of dengue fever further spreading in localities including Hanoi , HCM City , central Da Nang City , central Thua Thien-Hue province and the Central Highland provinces of Dak Lak, Dac Nong, Gia Lai and Kon Tum.
Ha Noi reported that the disease had hit 27 out of the city's 29 districts.
Doctor Trinh Thi Ngoc, head of Bach Mai Hospital 's Infectious Diseases Faculty Hanoi, warned of possible side effects without prompt treatment such as internal bleeding, brain haemorrhaging and vomiting blood.
The rainy season, which lasts from July to November, is considered the peak season for the disease, as it creates favourable breeding grounds for mosquitoes to develop, said doctor Kieu Quoc Khanh from the Hanoi Transport Hospital .
In August alone, the whole country recorded 19,577 patients and 11 deaths in 54 cities and provinces, according to reports from the Preventive Medicine Department.
The number of patients hospitalised in HCM City in the first two weeks of this month increased 30 percent, in comparison with the same period in previous months.
Children's Hospital No 2 reported that it had received 555 dengue fever patients since the start of this month, and on average was receiving between 15-30 patients a day.
The preventive medicine department said it was working with relevant agencies to take preventive measures in key localities since early this year, focusing on cleaning the environment and killing mosquitoes./.
Dung asked provincial and municipal People's Committee chairmen to mobilise all available forces to mitigate the spread of the disease and to closely monitor affected areas to prevent the further spread of the disease.
The Prime Minister instructed health officials to send aid and personnel to affected localities, where they will assist and inspect the implementation of measures to stamp out the disease.
Local health clinics have been required to prepare essential prescriptions and equipment to promptly treat dengue fever patients to prevent potential fatalities.
The PM asked the Ministry of Information and Communications to improve public awareness about preventive measures and counter inaccurate information about dengue fever.
He urged the Ministry of Education and Training to mobilise pupils nationwide to join campaigns to kill mosquitoes - the main carrier of the disease - in their houses and public places.
Dung also asked for the establishment of a steering committee for dengue fever prevention and control at all levels during the 24 hours following a reported outbreak.
The PM would consider the establishment of the national steering committee following suggestions from the health ministry, while People's Committee chairmen will be responsible for determining the establishment of committees at provincial level.
The Health Ministry reported that there was a high possibility of dengue fever further spreading in localities including Hanoi , HCM City , central Da Nang City , central Thua Thien-Hue province and the Central Highland provinces of Dak Lak, Dac Nong, Gia Lai and Kon Tum.
Ha Noi reported that the disease had hit 27 out of the city's 29 districts.
Doctor Trinh Thi Ngoc, head of Bach Mai Hospital 's Infectious Diseases Faculty Hanoi, warned of possible side effects without prompt treatment such as internal bleeding, brain haemorrhaging and vomiting blood.
The rainy season, which lasts from July to November, is considered the peak season for the disease, as it creates favourable breeding grounds for mosquitoes to develop, said doctor Kieu Quoc Khanh from the Hanoi Transport Hospital .
In August alone, the whole country recorded 19,577 patients and 11 deaths in 54 cities and provinces, according to reports from the Preventive Medicine Department.
The number of patients hospitalised in HCM City in the first two weeks of this month increased 30 percent, in comparison with the same period in previous months.
Children's Hospital No 2 reported that it had received 555 dengue fever patients since the start of this month, and on average was receiving between 15-30 patients a day.
The preventive medicine department said it was working with relevant agencies to take preventive measures in key localities since early this year, focusing on cleaning the environment and killing mosquitoes./.
