Vietnam Central Highlands Urged to Curb Dengue Fever Cases

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has urged authorities in Central Highlands localities to keep a close watch on the development of dengue fever in the region, state media reported. Communication campaigns should be intensified to raise public awareness of disease prevention, including encouraging residents to use chemicals in their homes and high risk areas to kill mosquitoes and mosquito larva, he said. He also stressed the need to arrange training courses for medical staff. According to Head of the Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health Tran Dac Phu, the Central Highlands region has recorded 7,411 dengue cases, including four deaths, so far this year. Gia Lai province recorded the highest number of infections with 3,081 cases, followed by Dak Lak, Kon Tum and Dak Nong with 1,865 cases, 1,387 cases, and 1,079 cases, respectively. The rate of dengue-infected patient remains high, at about 168 cases /100,000 people. 48 out of 50 districts in the four provinces were hit by the disease. The outbreak of the disease in the region was attributed to low awareness of disease prevention, and hot weather and poor water storage in many localities, which facilitated the development of mosquito larva. (Nguoi Lao Dong – Laborer Aug 9 p5, vov.vn August 7)