VietNamNet Bridge – Dengue fever outbreaks were increasingly likely in Ha Noi and people needed to take precautions to avoid catching the disease, said deputy director of Ha Noi's Preventive Medicine Centre Nguyen Nhat Cam.

"We are entering a weather pattern of high temperatures and humidity, which provides better conditions for mosquitoes, which spread dengue fever," said Cam.

Previously, the cycle of the dengue fever in Ha Noi came around every four to five years from May to November. However, during the past few years, it was hard to predict outbreaks of the disease, he said.

Cam said rapid urbanisation and better transportation enabled the disease to spread more rapidly.

During the first four months of the year, the number of cases diagnosed with dengue fever was 220, an increase of 15 to 20 per cent compared to the same period last year.

The highest concentration was in Hoang Mai, Hai Ba Trung and Gia Lam districts.

Cam said these areas had high population density, a substantial population of migrant workers from the countryside and poor hygiene conditions.

The doctor urged authorities to boost campaigns to raise public awareness about dengue fever. There was no vaccine and no specific treatment available for dengue fever yet. However, most preventive measures were simple and could be carried out at home.

For example, to reduce mosquito populations, residents should minimise pools of water inside homes where mosquitoes could breed. This means checking water storage tanks or even flower vases on the ancestral altar.

"The thing is to help people understand the importance of actually doing that," Cam said.

The centre is carrying out its own campaign, with volunteers handing out flyers and communicate with local resident about dengue fever in 60 high-risk communes.

* Ministry raises awareness of benefits of vaccinations

A vaccination week was launched yesterday by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation in Viet Nam to raise awareness among parents or caregivers of the importance of vaccinations in disease prevention.

The week, initiated by the WHO for the first time in Viet Nam, will also mobilise resources and secure political support for immunisation programmes.

"Hundreds of thousands of children and women have been protected from diseases in Viet Nam thanks to the efforts of the National Expanded Programme for Immunisation (EPI) during the past years," said Deputy Minister of Health Trinh Quan Huan.

"EPI needs strong political commitment both in financial and human terms and the participation of all ministries, sectors and communities from central to local levels in order to lower and eliminate the transmission of dangerous diseases," he said.

Vaccination activities needed the support of a strong and effective health system. Priorities were given to mountainous and remote areas and to strengthening community communication, added Huan.

During the week of April 25-30, activities will focus on providing information to parents and caregivers. Events to attract community and media will be offered to increase visibility and the number of national and local media stories on infant immunisation.

Started in 1985, the EPI now has provided free vaccines for 11 transmitted diseases to millions of children under five and women nationwide. The under-5 children vaccination rate has reached more than 90 per cent continuously in recent years.

Viet Nam eliminated wild polio in 2000 and tetanus in 2005. And measles is expected to be eliminated in Viet Nam by 2012.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News