At Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children, cases have risen rapidly over the past month. Each day, the hospital receives 50 to 100 children for examination, with about 20 hospitalised.

Dr Nguyen Hai Thinh, head of the Department of Tropical Medicine, said the department is treating 64 HFMD cases. The disease mainly affects children and tends to surge in two periods: from March to May and from October to December. Common symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, cough and skin rashes.

“The number of HFMD patients is more than 1.5 times higher than in the same period, and three to five times higher than in previous weeks. Most cases are at level 2A, a mild to moderate stage, with no severe complications involving the nervous, respiratory or cardiovascular systems. As this is the peak period and the disease progresses quickly, parents should strengthen prevention measures, especially hygiene, regular handwashing for children, and cleaning floors and toys. Infected children should be isolated at home for seven to 10 days and examined by specialised doctors,” Dr Thinh said, adding that children should be taken to medical facilities as soon as symptoms appear.

According to the Da Nang Centre for Disease Control, the city has recorded 483 HFMD cases since the start of the year, nearly 1.5 times higher than in the same period last year. Children under three account for nearly 90% of cases.

The centre is working with relevant agencies to take control measures, particularly in high-risk areas such as kindergartens and primary schools, while preparing personnel, supplies and chemicals for response.

Dr Nguyen Dai Vinh, Director of the Da Nang Centre for Disease Control, said the unit has organised training to strengthen capacity at grassroots health facilities, school health services and the community health collaborator network, and maintains mobile response teams to support localities in epidemiological investigation, zoning and outbreak handling. Surveillance in communities and schools has been strengthened to ensure early detection, handling of cases and early containment of outbreaks.

In recent weeks, as cases have increased and the situation has become more complex, the Da Nang Department of Health has inspected HFMD and other infectious disease prevention at communes and wards.

The inspections cover surveillance, case detection and handling, ensuring supplies and chemicals, and assessing public communication, especially at educational institutions and among young children. Inspection teams have also checked kindergartens and childcare facilities to assess the implementation of prevention measures.

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