Infectious disease risk still serious, Health Ministry says
The risk of infectious disease in Vietnam is still high, with cases of infection likely to increase from now to the end of the year, according to the Ministry of Health.
At an online conference on diseases with the participation of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang and Central Highlands, Tran Dac Phu, head of the Department of Preventive Medicine, said dengue fever is likely to increase in the South and the Central Highlands.
From the beginning of this year, Vietnam has recorded 72,372 cases of dengue fever in 52 provinces and cities, an increase from 2015.
The country recorded 27,000 cases of hand-foot-mouth disease in 62 provinces and cities, a reduction of 16%.
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| Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien at the conference on diseases. |
According to Phu, many diseases were likely to emerge in Vietnam unless the country implemented aggressive measures against them.
Speaking at the conference, Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said the Zika virus has been increasing worldwide and Vietnam has recorded some patients.
Diseases like dengue fever, hand-foot-mouth, diphtheria, seasonal flu, and malaria have a high risk of outbreak in many localities.
Tien asked the health sector to focus on prevention, discovery and treatment and control to fight diseases effectively.
The sector was urged to boost monitoring, identify emerging diseases and improve the rate of vaccination, especially in remote areas where ethnic groups live.
