The health department of Ho Chi Minh City has warned of the rising number of people contracting dengue fever due to rainy season, the www.toquoc.gov.vn [1] online newspaper reported June 5. The municipal hospitals now provide medical treatment for around 65 dengue fever patients a week, up 20% from the previous weeks, said Phan Van Nghiem of the city’s department of health. The department forecast the epidemic is likely to spread to the outlying districts in the upcoming months, particularly Thu Duc, Tan Phu, Binh Tan and Binh Chanh. Ho Chi Minh City authorities have urged the health department and relevant agencies to take measures to prevent the disease outbreak. Health experts also alert dengue fever may break out in the northern region in the next three months. Hanoi reported 100 dengue fever patients including one fatality in Soc Son district’s Tan Minh commune in the first quarter of this year. Vietnam has recorded 12,868 dengue fever patients since early this year, including 12 deaths, down 22.6% and 14.29% on year, respectively.
