VietNamNet Bridge – The risk of an outbreak of dengue fever was high in Ha Noi, healthcare officials have warned.

"The number of dengue fever cases is on the rise. In July, 357 cases were reported while in June there were 168 cases, an increase against the same period last year," Nguyen Nhat Cam, director of the city's Health Prevention Centre said yesterday, August 12.

The official said it was of concern that the number of cases had increased from month to month. A total of 21 cases were reported in January and 69 cases in May.

Cam said a total of 693 cases of dengue fever had been reported in the city since early this year. So far, there have been no deaths.

"The cases have occurred in 164 communes and wards in all 29 inner and outlying districts," he said.

The healthcare official said that, as usual, the fever season started in April and lasted until November. The peak is usually in October.

Cam said the city's health sector forecasts there would be a rise in dengue fever this year because it is cyclical, re-appearing every five years.

The city's health authority has asked People's Committee and relevant offices to take measures to prevent the spread of the disease, such as cleaning up the living environment, spraying mosquito repellents, and asking people to use mosquito nets while sleeping.

Tran Dac Phu, Director of the Ministry of Health's Preventive Health Department, said many residents were not aware of the risk of having open containers of water in their homes. Water containers, flower vases and pots were an ideal place for mosquitoes to lay eggs.

Since the beginning of this year, Viet Nam has recorded 19,753 cases of dengue fever. There have been a total of 12 deaths.

VNS