Infectious Disease Risk in Vietnam Still High: Health Ministry

The risk of infectious disease in Vietnam is still high, with cases of infection likely to increase from now to the end of the year, said Ministry of Health in a recent online conference. From the beginning of this year, Vietnam has recorded 72,372 cases of dengue fever in 52 provinces and cities, an increase from 2015, said Tran Dac Phu, head of the Department of Preventive Medicine, adding that the country also recorded 27,000 cases of hand-foot-mouth disease in 62 provinces and cities. Speaking at the conference, Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said the Zika virus has been increasing worldwide and Vietnam has recorded some patients. In addition, diseases like dengue fever, hand-foot-mouth, diphtheria, seasonal flu, and malaria have a high risk of outbreak in many localities. Tien asked the health sector to focus on prevention, discovery and treatment and control to fight diseases effectively. (thoibaotaichinhvietnam.vn Sep 28, baoquangngai.vn Sep 28)