Forces marshalled against top diseases

HA NOI (VNS) — Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan has urged all sectors, cities and provinces to give budget priority to fighting four contagious diseases – hand-foot-mouth, dengue, A-typed influenza and rabies.

Speaking at an on-line conference in Ha Noi on Saturday, Nhan said that combating contagious diseases was always a Government concern.

However, the four diseases always managed to develop and particularly affected children.

Outbreaks of rabies have been reported in some northern provinces. There have been 74 deaths caused by the dog-borne in 21 cities and provinces, including 17 cases in Son La Province and 12 in Yen Bai Province.

The Deputy PM asked all localities to set up inspection teams to prepare for further outbreaks.

Ministries, including health, agriculture, industry and trade have been called upon to join in the campaign.

Since the beginning of this year, more than 100,000 people in Viet Nam's 63 provinces and cities have contracted hand-foot-mouth disease and 40 have died.

More than 51,000 patients have also been infected with dengue fever, mostly in the south. The infection has already caused 42 deaths this year.

The increase in the number of people infected is attributed to poor personal hygiene, inadequate sanitation and ineffective preventive measures.

Delegates representing ministries, central agencies and healthcare departments from across the country participated in the online conference. — VNS