Minister of Health: "Not yet to the point of declaring hand, foot and mouth disease"

"Some countries in the region have seen a spike in the number of hand, foot and mouth disease cases and deaths, but no country has announced an epidemic, so why should we?", the Minister of Health said on the afternoon of October 25 during a meeting on epidemic prevention.

According to Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien, in 2003 Vietnam discovered the first case of the disease, and since then the disease has occurred sporadically throughout the year. This year, the epidemic has become especially severe.

However, not only our country but also some neighboring countries such as China and Thailand have the epidemic but no country has announced it yet. "Previously, the World Health Organization announced the H1N1 flu epidemic. Vietnam also announced the epidemic but it is a respiratory disease, just one sneeze can infect the whole community, spreading to many countries. All ministries, branches, police, army, transportation, tourism... are mobilized to participate in fighting the epidemic. Visitors entering the country must have their body temperature checked and samples taken," said Minister Tien.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien. Photo: Moh.

“Meanwhile, hand, foot and mouth disease is still circulating every year, mainly in children under 5 years old, transmitted through dirty hands so we can control it. Moreover, we still have dengue fever but we do not declare it. Should we declare it and then everyone entering Vietnam must have their blood tested?”, Ms. Tien said.

She also emphasized: “I confirm that there is a hand, foot and mouth disease, but according to the law or in reality, no one has announced it. And there is no way that localities are hiding it because of the disease of achievements. We can still control it because the disease is transmitted through dirty hands. Having said that, we must not neglect the lives of children,” Ms. Tien added.

Mr. Nguyen Van Binh, Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health) also said: "Currently, there is no locality that cannot control the disease. If the disease prevention measures are applied correctly and sufficiently according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health but the epidemic still increases in the area, then it can be said that it cannot be controlled."

According to him, the epidemic control in localities is very good. The proof is that the provinces with high number of cases before have reduced. Currently, there is less than one case of hand, foot and mouth disease per 1,000 people, while in Singapore, there are 3 children infected per 1,000 people.

According to Mr. Binh, the reality is that propaganda work currently focuses on early detection of diseases so that children can be examined and treated, but not on disease prevention. People's awareness is still very negligent, collaborators and propagandists come to their homes but people do not listen.

“Therefore, in the coming time, we need to change the way we communicate so that people can protect themselves; health workers cannot do it for us. We just need to do simple things like washing our hands with soap for ourselves and our children before and after eating, using the toilet, disinfecting toys, towels, diapers, clothes, floors, etc.”, the Minister of Health emphasized.

In fact, according to surveys in some provinces and cities, a large proportion of children who do not go to school but still get sick account for a large proportion. Through an investigation of 100 children with hand, foot and mouth disease in Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Binh Duong and Ben Tre, it was found that the proportion of children who do not go to school but get sick is very high (nearly 80%). The situation is similar in Long An, Vinh Long, Quang Ngai. This shows the role of parents and caregivers in preventing diseases for children.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, to date the country has recorded 78,000 cases, including 137 deaths. "The mortality rate in Vietnam is quite low, about 3%, while in surrounding countries it is 10-30%," said the Minister of Health.

(According to VnExpress)