Hanoi, 16 July 2019 – Viet Nam is experiencing an unusually high number of dengue cases for this time of year. With the rapid onset of the rainy season, the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) are calling for urgent action to minimize illness and deaths from dengue.
There has been an increase in the number of dengue cases reported in past weeks. As of 7 July 2019, Viet Nam has recorded more than 96 000 dengue cases, including seven deaths, a case fatality rate of 0.007%. Compared to the same reporting period in 2018, the number of cases has increased three-fold. It has also reached above the alert threshold level of the past five-year average. Highest case increases were reported from Southern, Central Highland and Central Coastal regions.
Dengue is one of the fastest-spreading mosquito-borne diseases. Worldwide, the incidence of dengue has increased 30-fold over the past 50 years. Climate conditions, unclean environments, unplanned urban settlements and rapid urbanization can lead to increased mosquito breeding, especially in urban and semi-urban areas.
“This increase in dengue is concerning but, by working together, we can limit the impact of this disease,” said a senior official from the General Department of Preventive Medicine (GDPM), Ministry of Health.
The Ministry of Health and WHO are working together with national, provincial and district health authorities to closely monitor the situation. Activities include provision of risk communication, engagement of local authority, civil society and community, training, mosquito control, breeding site reduction campaigns, and onsite supervision and support. Emphasis is given to training health workers to recognize the symptoms of dengue, identify the warning signs of severe dengue, do diagnostic tests early and provide life-saving care.
Many people with mild or moderate dengue can be cared for at home with adequate rest and hydration. However, sometimes the disease can develop into a potentially fatal form called “severe dengue”. Urgent hospital care is required whenever, a few days after getting sick with a very high fever of more than 39°C, someone experiences a sudden drop in temperature (below 38°C) combined with any of the following symptoms:
- Severe stomach pain
- Persistent vomiting
- Fast breathing
- Bleeding gums
- Fatigue
- Restlessness
- Blood in vomit
- Drowsiness
Communities are also being encouraged to reduce the spread of dengue by cleaning up mosquito breeding sites regularly, starting from households.
“Mosquitoes can breed in anything that can contain water – even something as small as a bottle cap. We must all make an effort, once per week, to clean up around our homes, schools and workplaces,” the GDPM senior official continued.
In 2016, governments of the Western Pacific Region adopted an action plan for dengue prevention and control that provides strategic guidance to transition from containment of outbreaks to reducing the impact of dengue on communities and health systems. In Viet Nam, dengue surveillance and response activities are guided by the National Guideline on Dengue Surveillance, Prevention and Control, which was issued in 2014, and is aligned with the regional plan. Public advocacy also continues to be strengthened, including the annual observance of ASEAN Dengue Day, which the country has actively participated in for the past 10 years. Dengue outbreaks cannot be avoided, but countries can take action to significantly reduce the scale, frequency and impact of outbreaks. WHO continues to support countries in their efforts to reduce the burden of this disease on population.
Related links:
- WHO fact sheet on dengue: www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue
- Dengue in Viet Nam: https://www.who.int/vietnam/health-topics/dengue
- Dengue in the WHO Western Pacific Region: www.who.int/westernpacific/health-topics/dengue