Dengue fever is estimated to have attacked 119,100 Vietnamese people this year, claiming 89 lives, showed the General Statistics Office (GSO), giving no on-year comparative figures. Among regions, the central highlands have reported the highest number of dengue fever cases, followed by the southern and the northern. Between January and December, malaria affected 45,000 locals with 13 fatalities, the GSO added. The country identified 7,900 viral hepatitis patients and 907 viral encephalitis patients during the year. Vietnam has also recorded 1,100 typhoid sufferers and 314 cholera ones, the office added. The number of A/H5N1 patients has been reported at seven. In mid-Nov, Vietnam’s National Assembly, the country’s highest legislative body, approved a plan to allocate VND10.2 trillion ($523.08 million) from the state budget for health projects in 2011. (GSO Dec Edition)
