Inpatients with dengue fever. Illustrative photo. (Source: VNA)Since the beginning of this year, Vietnamhas recorded more than 71,000 dengue fever cases, with some 60,000 peoplehospitalised, a year-on-year increase of 24.8 percent. Hanoi alone has reportedabout 8,000 cases.
Due to the disease’s spread, most of Hanoi’sleading hospitals are overloaded.
The National Hospital of Tropical Diseases treatshundreds of people with dengue fever symptoms every day, forcing its medicalstaff to work earlier and through weekends to fight the epidemic.
The hospital also established a care centreduring daytime in its hall to reduce overloading. The centre, equipped with 20beds, aims to serve patients from Hanoi who need daytime treatment beforereturning home in the evening.
Director of the hospital Nguyen Van Kinhpredicts that the situation will continue due to abnormal weather and theincrease of dengue patients in Hanoi.
[PM issues notice to prompt drastic measures against dengue]
Dong Da Hospital is also overloaded, serving400-500 dengue patients daily, about 20 percent of whom hospitalised. It has toarrange more space for dengue treatment, even in doctors’ workrooms.
Additionally, Thanh Nhan hospital receivessome 300 patients with dengue fever every day.
The Health Ministry urged localities tocontinue implementing recommendations on dengue prevention and control whichinclude destroying habitats where mosquitoes breed, ensuring a clean livingenvironment, using mosquito repellents and wearing long-sleeved shirts andpants..
Dengue fever is a viral infectiontransmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. There is no specific treatmentfor dengue and vaccination options are limited.
Patients who develop a sudden high fever of 39-40 degrees Celsius, lasting 2-7days and with symptoms of headaches, tenderness and skin rashes should visit ahospital for diagnosis and treatment.-VNA
VNA
