[health-vn] [HCMC] Cases of dengue continue to rise

[Vern Weitzel]

http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=01HEA310309

Cases of dengue continue to rise

(31-03-2009)

HCM CITY—The number of dengue fever cases in HCM City in the first quarter of 
this year has increased by 8 per cent compared with the same period a year ago, 
according to the municipal Department of Health.

To date, the department has recorded 2,250 people hospitalised with dengue 
fever, one of whom died.

Many hospitals in the city have reported increasing numbers of dengue fever 
cases over the last several months.

Dr Tran Van Ngoc, head of the HCM City Tropical Disease Hospital’s Paediatrics A 
Ward, says the ward has been receiving an average of 10 dengue fever patients 
per day.

Dr Vu Quang Vinh, deputy head of Paediatrics Hospital No 2’s general accounting 
department, says that the hospital has received 124 cases so far this month.

The situation is rather serious, says Dr Nguyen Dac Tho, deputy director of the 
city’s Preventative Health Centre. He says a survey conducted by the centre in 
districts 12, 6 and Binh Thanh found disease-carrying mosquitoes in more than 90 
per cent of the houses.

To discuss ways to prevent new outbreaks in the upcoming rainy season in 
southern provinces, the Ministry of Health’s Preventive Medicine Department held 
a meeting on Friday with representatives of provincial health departments on 
implementing the National Dengue Fever Prevention Programme.

A representative from the Preventive Medicine Department said this year, the 
ministry would run the National Dengue Fever Prevention Programme in all 
provinces and cities nationwide at a cost of more than VND91 billion (US$5.2 
million).

The programme aims to reduce, by the end of this year, both the number of people 
infected and those dying from dengue fever by 10 per cent over the average 
during the 2003-07 period. — VNS