According to data from the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC), dengue fever is becoming increasingly complex across the city. From the start of the year through May 31, authorities recorded 17,718 dengue infections, representing a rise of more than 64.6% year-on-year.

Le Hong Nga, deputy director of HCDC, said that more than half of all current cases involve adults. Infection rates are particularly high among people aged 11-15 and 16-30, highlighting that dengue is no longer considered primarily a childhood disease and now poses a significant risk to multiple age groups.

"Older adults, pregnant women and people with underlying cardiovascular disease, overweight conditions or obesity face a higher risk of severe complications and require close monitoring," Nga said.

Adults increasingly affected

Experts attribute the surge to several factors, including high population density, rapid urbanization and climate change. Alternating periods of extreme heat and irregular rainfall have created favorable conditions for mosquito breeding and sustained disease transmission within communities.

Associate Professor Pham Van Quang, head of the Intensive Care and Poison Control Department at Children's Hospital 1, identified three common mistakes that often contribute to severe illness: assuming dengue is a mild disease or only affects children, self-medicating or administering intravenous fluids at home, and failing to recognize early warning signs.

One particularly dangerous misconception is that recovery begins once the fever subsides.

In reality, the period between the third and seventh day of illness - often when the fever decreases - is considered the most dangerous stage. Patients may develop dengue shock syndrome, severe bleeding, multi-organ failure or, in some cases, death.

Warning signs require immediate medical attention

Health experts urge people to seek medical care immediately if they experience symptoms such as persistent high fever, severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, cold extremities, bleeding gums, nosebleeds or significantly reduced urination.

Regarding prevention, authorities are focusing on controlling the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the primary vector responsible for transmitting dengue virus.

HCDC and partner agencies are implementing a "double shield" prevention strategy that combines mosquito and larval control measures with proactive vaccination efforts.

Vaccination is increasingly viewed as a key long-term preventive solution, helping reduce the risk of infection, severe disease progression and treatment burdens while lowering the likelihood of dengue-related deaths.

Concerns over a possible outbreak cycle

Public health specialists note that dengue outbreaks in Vietnam often follow cyclical patterns influenced by weather conditions, mosquito populations and levels of community immunity.

The significant increase in infections recorded during the first five months of 2026 has heightened concerns that Ho Chi Minh City could be entering another major outbreak phase if preventive measures are not strengthened.

Authorities continue to call on residents to eliminate standing water around homes, destroy mosquito breeding sites, use protective measures against mosquito bites and seek prompt medical evaluation when symptoms appear.

Phuoc Sang