Vietnam’s Ministry of Health has established five nationwide inspection teams to strengthen efforts on preventing hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD). The inspection teams will start operation this week, especially in provinces reporting high numbers of HFMD infections in the first four months of 2014 including Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Ca Mau, Kon Tum and Dak Lak. During the inspection, the ministry will review the capacity of emergency and treatment personnel to effectively treat HFMD patients. Statistics from the ministry’s Preventive Health Department showed that the country recorded 17,410 hand-foot-mouth cases with two fatalities reported in Long An and Ba Ria-Vung Tau since the beginning of 2014. Despite the fact that the incidence rate has fallen by 20% and mortality cases are lower than the same period last year, the southern region is currently seeing a high concentration of HFMD infections with 14,254 cases equivalent to 83.5% of the country’s total number of infected people. The disease is transmitted through the digestive tract. There is no vaccine for the disease and it is easily spread if preventative measures are not undertaken, said Preventive Health Department Head Tran Dac Phu. Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thi Xuyen has asked provincial and municipal health departments and general hospitals to work out HFMD prevention plans to contain the disease. (Vov.vn May 7)
