A patient with severe dengue fever is treated at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in HCM City. —VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — HCM City has recorded 10 deaths from dengue fever amid a sharp rise in infections, the HCM City Centre for Disease Control (HCDC) warned.

The city recorded 15,546 cases of dengue fever from the beginning of the year to July 15, a 2.5-fold increase compared to the same period last year, according to HCDC's statistics.

The number of weekly cases has been increasing since the beginning of June.

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, director of HCDC Nguyễn Hồng Tâm said that the number of dengue fever cases is increasing rapidly and the epidemic is at the peak.

The total number of recorded cases shows that dengue fever tends to spread widely throughout the city, Tâm said.

Reducing infections and mortality from dengue fever is a focus in the response to the dengue fever epidemic, he said.

The health sector assessed that the epidemic is at risk of a strong outbreak.

The Department of Health directed HCDC, health centres, and ward and commune health stations to coordinate with local authorities to strengthen the eradication of mosquito larvae.

In addition, hospitals are required to review treatment procedures and organise consultations with higher-level hospitals to promptly handle severe cases.

The severe cases and deaths put pressure on the city’s health sector and require coordination and rapid action from the city government, the health sector and the community to prevent the spread of the disease as well as ensure timely treatment.

The health sector has strengthened protocols to monitor and manage outbreaks and assess risk points as well as guide locals to take preventive measures at home.

Communication on dengue fever prevention and control has been promoted through various channels, including promoting instructions on using online medical applications so that people can access and report areas at risk of mosquito breeding that cause dengue fever outbreaks.

The health sector recommends that people strictly implement measures to prevent and control dengue fever in households, communities and public facilities. — VNS