HCM CITY — HCM City has recorded 13,763 cases of dengue fever since the beginning of this year, an increase of 27 per cent compared to the same period last year, according to the city’s Department of Health.

However, the increase in the last eight weeks was part of a slowing trend, a representative of the department said at a meeting with health centres and hospitals held yesterday.

From August 25-31, 466 patients with dengue fever were reported, a drop of 10 per cent compared to the last four weeks, according to the city Preventive Health Centre.

Many districts such as Bình Tân, Bình Chánh, Cần Giờ, and Hóc Môn have seen a decrease in the number of patients with dengue fever thanks to clearing away of water containers which could be home to mosquito larvae.

However, several other districts, including Bình Thạnh, Củ Chi, Nhà Bè and 8, have seen an increase in the number of cases.

Dr Lê Hồng Nga, head of the centre’s division for the control of infectious diseases, said that local health officials and authorities should continue preventive methods for sustainably controlling mosquitoes which transmit the disease to humans, although the disease has seen a slow upward trend.

“There still is a risk of an increase in cases,” Nga said.

She instructed local health officials to continue to spray chemicals to destroy mosquitoes as scheduled and review their wards or communes with an increase in cases to ensure that preventive methods are done in a timely fashion.

The centre has provided training courses on prevention to teachers and health officials at schools, Nga said.

A department representative said that it would review the spraying of chemicals to check whether health officials are doing the job properly.

The proper method for spraying will be expanded throughout the city, he added. — VNS