Dengue fever claims 45 lives in Vietnam

The number of infections increased by 3.2 times, while the number of deaths rose by 31 cases compared to the same period last year, a representative of the MoH said at a conference in Hanoi on August 2.

The outbreak has mainly spread across southern provinces, with Ho Chi Minh City topping localities in infection numbers, followed by Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, An Giang, Long An and Dong Thap.

Ho Chi Minh City also took the lead in the number of deaths, registering 10 cases, followed by Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, Binh Phuoc, Dong Thap and Vinh Long, all in the south.

Some central and Central Highland localities such as Da Nang, Quang Nam and Dak Lak also reported infections of the dengue virus, said Dr. Nguyen Luong Tam, deputy director of the Preventive Medicine Department.

The Government late last month issued a telegram, requesting localities to strengthen prevention and control measures against dengue fever and other infectious diseases.

The MoH also requested local health departments to pool resources and purchase Dextran, a high molecular solution used for severe dengue cases, for treatment. The medicine is currently imported into Vietnam.

According to Dr. Nguyen Luong Tam, the World Health Organization estimates that about half of the world’s population is at risk and between 100-400 million cases of dengue are reported each year. The number of dengue cases has increased 30-fold over the past half century, and doubled in the past decade alone.