Spraying chemicals to kill mosquito larva (Photo: VNA)Khanh Hoa (VNA) – The number of dengue fevercases in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa has reduced, but seriousones increased although this has yet been the peak season of the disease,according to local health authority.
They added that the province is recording thebiggest number of cases in the central region.
As of July 17, the province reported 6,942 cases, up five times against thesame period last year, including one fatality in April, as well as detected andhandled over 340 outbreaks, up eight times year-on-year.
According to the provincial centre for diseasecontrol, this year is witnessing an abnormal development of dengue fever.
In previous years, the peak season often fell inSeptember and October, then gradually declined in the remainder of the year.
However, in 2019, dengue fever developedstrongly in the early months. From January to March, the province recordedbetween 1,040 and 2,230 cases per month, up eight times year-on-year.
From April to June, the number of cases reducedto 490 – 600 per month, up five times.
In the first three weeks of July, Khanh Hoareported 550 cases.
Director of the Khanh Hoa Hospital for TropicalDiseases Nguyen Dong said the development of dengue fever in the hospital isquite complicated.
In July, each day, the hospital receives around15 cases. Though there is no sudden increase in the number of cases compared tothe previous months, most are serious with high risk of complications anddeath, he said.
Therefore,the treatment and control of the disease have become difficult, he added.
Deputy Director of the provincial Department ofHealth Nguyen Dinh Thoan called on people to proactively prevent the spread ofthe disease by keeping the environment clean and spraying chemicals to killmosquito larva.
According to the Ministry of Health, since thebeginning of 2019, the country has recorded over 80,000 dengue cases, triplingthat of the same period last year. Six deaths were reported so far.
The highestnumber were reported in Khanh Hoa, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Dinh, PhuYen, Binh Duong, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Ninh Thuan and Dong Nai.
Vaccine fordengue fever has only been tested in a number of countries and yet to be availablein Vietnam.-VNA
VNA
