Ho Chi Minh City detected 121 dengue fever outbreaks, 10 new hand, foot and mouth disease outbreaks

Information from the Center for Disease Control of Ho Chi Minh City (HCDC) on May 31 said that the number of cases of hand, foot and mouth disease and dengue fever continued to increase in the 21st week of 2022. The economy calls on people to strengthen preventive measures to protect the safety of the whole community.

Only in the first 5 months of 2022, Ho Chi Minh City recorded 10,052 cases of dengue fever, an increase of 46.4% compared to the same period in 2021 with 6,867 cases. The number of severe dengue cases was 194 cases, an increase of nearly 5 times compared to the same period in 2021 (28 cases).

In week 21 (from May 20, 2022 to May 26, 2022), Ho Chi Minh City recorded 1,402 cases of dengue fever, an increase of 457 cases (48.4%) compared to the average of 4 weeks ago. Dengue fever cases increased in both inpatient and outpatient hospital admissions. Notably, many cases of dengue fever were hospitalized in the state of multi-organ failure, especially severe acute liver failure causing hepatic coma, severe bleeding… which could lead to death.

Dengue fever cases continue to increase in most districts and cities. Thu Duc (20/22 districts) except District 12, Phu Nhuan. Wards and communes with a higher number of cases compared to the average of 4 weeks ago are Ward 7 (District 8); Le Minh Xuan commune, Vinh Loc A (Binh Chanh); Binh Hung Hoa A ward (Binh Tan); Tan An Hoi commune (Cu Chi); Tay Thanh ward (Tan Phu).

In week 21, the whole city recorded 121 drives dengue fever epidemic newly arisen in 71 wards and communes in 15/22 districts, Thu Duc city. The number of outbreaks in week 21 increased by 42 new outbreaks compared to week 20. The cumulative number of outbreaks by week 21 in 2022 is 567 outbreaks.

Doctors recommend that Ho Chi Minh City is currently in the hot summer season, along with the rains that have made the humidity in the air quite high, creating favorable conditions for pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. (also known as virus)… easy to break out and attack.

Besides dengue fever, the situation of hand, foot and mouth disease has also increased. In the first 5 months of 2022, the city recorded 3,699 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease with 96% of children suffering from the disease aged 1-5 years old.

In week 21 (from May 20 to May 26), Ho Chi Minh City recorded an additional 1,070 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease, an increase of 481 cases (81.7%) compared to the average of the previous 4 weeks. In which, the number of cases increased in both inpatients and outpatients.

The number of hand, foot and mouth disease cases continues to increase in most districts and cities. Thu Duc. Wards and communes with a higher number of cases compared to the average of 4 weeks ago are Ward 4, Ward 5 (District 8), Binh Hung Commune (Binh Chanh), An Lac Ward (Binh Tan), Town (Nha Be), Ward 11 (Tan Binh).

In week 21, the whole city recorded 10 new hand, foot and mouth disease outbreaks in 5 districts (District 3, District 7, District 12, Binh Chanh, Binh Tan), down from week 20 (14 outbreaks). Since the beginning of the year, Ho Chi Minh City has detected 40 outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease. All outbreaks were handled in a timely manner.

Faced with the above actual situation, the health sector in Ho Chi Minh City calls on people to strengthen preventive measures to protect the safety of the whole community.

According to Dr. Le Hong Nga – Deputy Director of the Center for Disease Control in Ho Chi Minh City, dengue fever is a disease directly related to people’s daily activities. The habit of littering indiscriminately will create more nests for mosquitoes to lay eggs around the house, leading to the risk of mosquitoes developing everywhere in residential areas.

Therefore, each resident spends 10 – 15 minutes a week to clean the place where they work and live, from inside to around the house, to prevent standing water that causes swarms and mosquitoes such as overturning buckets, unused old bottles and jars; clean and change the water in flowerpots and offerings at least once a week, clean eaves, roofs, gutters, etc. At the same time, use sprays, incense, mosquito repellant creams, wear long-sleeved clothes, sleep under a mosquito net even during the day… to avoid mosquito bites.

To proactively prevent hand, foot and mouth disease, the HCDC recommends that caregivers and children wash their hands often with soap under running water several times a day. Practice good eating and drinking hygiene, cooked food and drink, eating utensils must be washed before use. Regularly clean daily contact surfaces and tools with soap or common cleaning agents.