A dengue fever patient receives treatment. — Photo suckhoedoisong.vn

HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Health reports that the number of dengue fever cases across the nation has increased 2.3 times in the first two months of 2023 compared to the same period last year, with southern and central provinces being hit the hardest.

In response to the growing crisis, the ministry has issued a directive to the people's committees of provinces and cities to implement preventative measures before the peak months of 2023.

The directive urges localities to disseminate information on dengue fever and organise activities for the ASEAN Day of Dengue Prevention and Control. Additionally, relevant agencies and the medical sector have been assigned to carry out campaigns on environmental sanitation and larval eradication, ensuring that households in epidemic and at-risk areas are regularly monitored for mosquito's breeding grounds such as water tanks and waste bins.

To facilitate early detection and prompt handling of dengue outbreaks, local preventive health agencies have been directed to closely monitor the situation in their respective areas.

Medical establishments must also ensure the availability of adequate treatment equipment and organise patient receiving to avoid potential delays in emergency treatment or hospital transfer. Upper-level hospitals have plans to support local clinics in treatment, and departments of finance have been instructed to submit budget plans for funding dengue prevention and control programmes in 2023.

Despite efforts to control the epidemic, epidemiologists warn that the cyclical nature of dengue epidemics, coupled with favourable weather conditions for the development of larvae and mosquitoes, pose ongoing challenges.

Last year, the country recorded 361,813 cases of dengue fever and 133 deaths. Localities have been advised to organise inspections and supervision of dengue fever prevention and control in hot spots and areas at risk of epidemic outbreaks. — VNS