Vietnam’s southern province of Dong Nai has reported additional three deaths of hand-foot-mouth disease, totaling 10 dead cases so far this year, the provincial Preventive Medicine Center said. The disease has attacked nearly 1,400 local people, mainly children, tripling the figure of last year’s same period, it added. In a move to curb the rising infection, the center has provided around six tons of chloramin B powder for health centers to sterilize pre-schools. The southern region is also facing an outbreak of the disease with 29 fatalities out of over 8,200 infection cases since early this year. Worst still, the epidemic is likely to expand to other places in the coming times, experts warned. Ho Chi Minh City has reported 3,577 hand-foot-mouth patients so far this year, representing an on year rise of 140%, including 15 deaths, compared to only one fatal case in the whole 2010, they added. Normally, the disease peaks between Oct and Dec, but there are also many cases recorded since the beginning of the year due to abnormal weather condition, they added. The disease, which is said to hit outbreaks only in Oct and Dec, has resulted in many cases since the beginning of this year and local experts attributed it to abnormal weather condition. The best way to prevent the disease is to frequently clean and disinfect surfaces and items around houses and schools as there is no vaccine or specific treatment for the contagious viral illness, the experts said. (Phap Luat TP.HCM – HCM City Law June 22 p9)
