The number of dengue fever cases in Hà Nội has increased since the beginning of this year, even though it is not yet high season for the disease. — Photo vncdc.gov.vn

HÀ NỘI – The number of dengue fever cases in Hà Nội has increased since the beginning of this year, even though it is not yet high season for the disease.

Statistics released by the Hà Nội Department of Health showed that since the beginning of the year, the capital has recorded 699 cases of dengue fever, double the amount of the same period last year.

Most patients came from Đống Đa, Hoàng Mai, Hai Bà Trưng and Thanh Xuân districts.

Just in Đống Đa, as many as 165 cases were reported in 18 wards, a threefold increase compared with the same period last year. At present nine patients are still receiving treatment.

Deputy director of the Hà Nội Department of Health Hoàng Đức Hạnh recently led an inspection team to check the district’s disease situation. The inspection revealed a number of construction sites and many areas left fallow. Additionally, a number of residential quarters such as Văn Chương, Trung Liệt, Láng Hạ and Láng Thượng had uncovered wells, helping mosquitoes reproduce quickly.

Many residents used open containers to store water for daily use, raise livestock and water vegetables. Such containers can become infested with mosquito larvae.

On checking a dormitory at the Hà Nội Law University, where 11 people contracted the disease, inspectors discovered a mosquito larvae brood in a well which had not been used for a long time.

Deputy director Hạnh said that many residents were lacking awareness on how to prevent the disease.

Many did not help medical workers spread pesticides in their areas, and some even expelled the staff, he said.

Several district authorities did not pay enough attention to disease prevention and considered it to be the duty of the health sector.

Director of the Hà Nội Department of Health Nguyễn Nhật Cảm said that one more reason for the increase in cases was impact of climate change and abnormal weather patterns creating optimal conditions for mosquitoes to reproduce.

In previous years, the cases of the disease often increased sharply from July to October, but now the disease occured all year round and could break out irregularly, said Cảm.

One more serious problem was that there are different strains of the disease, so a resident who contracts one type could contract another in the future, and the second time their condition could be more serious.

When showing symptoms including a prolonged high temperature, serious headache, rash and vomit with blood, residents should seek medical attention immediately for treatment, he said. – VNS