The Vietnamese health officials have called for urgent action to prevent concurrent outbreaks of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD), dengue fever and measles across the country. Phan Trong Lan, director of the Pasteur Institute in HCM City, said HFMD’s most virulent viral strain has grown more prevalent in recent years. “Viral strains that may cause serious complications have increased from 42% in 2005 to 72% recently. The prevalence of the EV-71 subtype has also increased. There’s a high possibility that we’ll see more HFMD patients this year than last year.” Mr. Lan noted that Children’s Hospital 1, Children’s Hospital 2 and the Hospital for Tropical Diseases have treated more than 34,000 HFMD patients and 3,200 dengue fever patients (including four fatalities) since the beginning of this year. The figures did not include two fatalities of EV71 virus in Long An and Ba Ria – Vung Tau provinces. In previous years, Vietnam recorded 100,000-150,000 HFMD cases a year. Meanwhile, measles continues to spread. The number of measles patients at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases increased from 225 in March to roughly 500 in April. Measles infected more than 1,600 children in HCM City this year. Since the beginning of 2014, the country has had 4,633 measles cases in 62 out of total 63 cities and provinces nationwide. Currently, there is a vaccine for measles, but none for HFMD and dengue fever. Company for Vaccine and Biological Production No.1 (VABIOTECH) has reported initial success with its vaccine for the HFMD virus. Do Tuan Dat, director of the health-ministry run said it started researching for a vaccine in 2010 and has completed its animal trials. Mr. Dat added that the company is asking for permission to begin testing it on humans. (Thanh Nien – Young People May 16, Lao Dong – Labor May 20, Tuoi Tre – Youth May 20)
