Medical workers at Children’s Hospital No. 1 in HCM City talk to a woman about the condition of her child who has dengue fever. – Photo: tuoitre.vn

HCM City – The number of new dengue cases in HCM City is decreasing gradually this month though it is still fairly high, according to the HCM City Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

The HCDC said there were 3,066 cases in the first week of August, 6.4 per cent fewer than a month earlier.

One person died of dengue hemorrhagic fever in Thủ Đức City, the 17th death due to the disease this year.

While there is a decline compared to last month, the caseload has increased by 378.8 per cent compared to a year ago to around 39,500.

Dengue is caused by mosquitoes, and so to prevent the insect from spawning rapidly, HCDC said people should cover water containers.

They could also use chemicals or breed creatures that eat mosquito larvae such as fish and water beetles in those containers, it said.

They should also wash the containers regularly and not store water for too long, it added. – VNS.