The Ministry of Health has warned of the possibility of infectious disease break in this summer.

A child being treated at Vietnam National Hospital of Paediatrics

According to the Ministry of Health’s Preventive Medicine Department, since early this year, the country has recorded around 15,000 dengue fever cases, down 37.7% on-year, including four deaths in Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Khanh Hoa and Ca Mau provinces.  

Meanwhile, a total number of nearly 7,000 hand, foot and mouth disease cases have been reported nationwide. Localities across the country have detected a total 135 measles patients and three meningococcal meningitis cases.

Hanoi alone has found 81 dengue fever cases, 234 hand, foot and mouth disease cases, 61 measles cases and two meningococcal meningitis cases.

These infectious diseases are forecasted to have a high risk for sharply increasing in the summer.

In March, Hanoi had 20-25 hand, foot and mouth disease patients on average per week. By late April, the figure grew to 50-70 cases.

Do Thien Hai, deputy head of Vietnam National Hospital of Paediatrics' Infectious Disease Ward, said that to date, there were no foot, hand and mouth disease vaccines prepared, so it would be easy for patients to face serious complications which could lead to fatalities.

According to Dr. Truong Dinh Bac, deputy head of Preventive Medicine Department, many respiratory and digestive diseases also have a high risk for breakout. People need to take preventive measures against the diseases.

Dtinews/Hanoimoi