Health Ministry to intensify mosquito killing campaign as dengue worsens

Hanoi (VNA) – The will intensify the spraying
of mosquito-killing chemicals in high-risk areas as the shows
signs of worsening, especially in Hanoi.

At a meeting on combating dengue fever in Hanoi on August 10, Director of
the Preventive Medicine Department Tran Dac Phu reported that 80,555 cases of dengue
fever had been reported in the country so far this year with 24 deaths. More
cases are expected as it is now the peak of the disease season.  

Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien expressed concerns at the rising
trend of dengue fever in despite drastic efforts made by the health sector.

 
Hanoi ranks second after Ho Chi Minh City in the number of dengue
patients with 13,900 cases as of August 9.

 

The Preventive Medicine Department stressed that the main cause of the spread
of dengue fever is the early arrival of summer this year with higher
temperature and rainfalls than in previous years. The awareness about disease
prevention among population and authorities is low due to the absence of the epidemic
for years.

The department has set up three mobile taskforces to deal with the dengue
epidemic. The Health Ministry will send experts from the Central to help four
Hanoi districts hardest hit by the epidemic and dispatch six teams to inspect anti-epidemic
work in eight hot-bed provinces.

In particular, the health sector will mobilize the cooperation of other
branches and sectors such as the police, the army, the construction industry,
the natural resources and environment sector and the education sector to clean up
the environment and kill mosquitos at construction sites, public areas as well
as at houses and schools.-VNA