Dengue Fever Infections in Vietnam Rise 5.3% in Five Months: GSO

As many as 13,900 Vietnamese people have fallen ill with dengue fever in the first five months of this year, up 5.3% over the same period last year, according to the government’s General Statistics Office (GSO). During the period, there were ten deaths, compared to eight in the five-month period of 2012, the office added. The infections are mainly diagnosed in central and central highlands provinces with thousands of affected people, experts said, blaming the unpredicted weather conditions and low public awareness for the high incidence. Each year, 25,000-76,000 people are infected with the mosquito-borne disease and 45-111 people die, experts said. Meanwhile, contagious hand-foot-mouth disease caused seven deaths out of total 25,200 infected people between Jan and May in 2013, compared to 22 deaths and 43,200 infections in the same period last year. During the five months, the country also reported 175 people suffering from viral encephalitis and 82 with typhoid while 18 people were infected with an unidentified skin disease from Feb 15 to May 17. Vietnam disbursed estimated VND275 billion ($13 million) worth of state funds for health projects between Jan and May, meeting 31.2% of the whole year’s target and falling by 25.5% on year. (GSO May Edition)