Mekong Delta takes preventive measures to prevent dengue fever outbreaks

Residents in Dong Thap province remove stagnant water, a breeding ground for mosquitoes (Photo: VNA)

HCM
City (VNS/VNA) – Provinces in the have stepped up
preventive measures to reduce the risk of outbreaks after an increase in the
number of dengue fever cases in various parts of the region.

The
Department of Health of Ben Tre province has reported 2,708 cases of
dengue fever, with no deaths, since the beginning of the year, an
increase of 820 cases compared to the same period last year.

Dr.
Ngo Van Tan, director of the department, said health authorities
were speeding up preventive measures to prevent outbreaks, including
an awareness drive and measures to eliminate mosquito breeding sources, and
spraying of chemicals to kill in high-risk areas where dengue cases
have been reported.

The
transition from the hot season to the rainy season provides favourable
conditions for mosquitoes to develop, resulting in more dengue fever cases. The
risk of outbreaks is high if preventive measures are not put in
place in a timely manner, Tan said.

In
Dong Thap province, more than 1,700 people have had dengue fever,
including 48 people with severe dengue fever since the beginning of
the year. There have been no deaths.

The
provincial Department of Health has strengthened preventive measures, said Duong
An Han, deputy director of the Centre for Disease Control.

The
department has conducted three campaigns on killing mosquitoes and
mosquito larvae in residential areas and households and raising public
awareness about disease prevention and treatment.

Van
Cong Minh, Director of the Department of Health of Vinh Long province, said
that around 100 mosquito larvae breeding sites had
been identified and were being closely supervised by public health
officials.

The
number of dengue cases in September was higher than the previous month. More
than 30 people were diagnosed with dengue fever each week in
September, a two-fold rise compared to one-week figures in August.
The upward trend during the is expected to
continue.  

A
total of 389 dengue cases have been reported in Ca Mau province since the
beginning of the year, a year-on-year drop of 60 per cent, according to the
province’s Centre for Disease Control. However, the number of dengue cases
has risen in the last few weeks.

The
province has focused on preventive measures, with more than 200 mosquito
larvae breeding sites eliminated and three communes sprayed with
chemicals./.