Dengue fever outbreak early in Dien Chau

The dengue fever outbreak first occurred on March 7 in Dien Bich commune with 2 cases in Hai Nam hamlet. In the following days, the disease continued to spread to Nam Chien Thang, Bac Chien Thang, and Quyet Thanh hamlets. To date, after more than 1 month of the outbreak, Dien Bich has recorded 26 cases of the disease.

Dengue fever outbreak early in Dien Bich - Dien Chau. Photo: Mai Giang

Mr. Nguyen Van Lien - Vice Chairman of Dien Bich Commune People's Committee said: The commune has urgently implemented synchronous and drastic anti-epidemic measures. Immediately after detecting the first dengue fever case, the local government and the commune health station went to the villages and hamlets to propagate and raise people's awareness of dengue fever; support and closely monitor the disease's developments; at the same time, mobilize people to clean the environment, clear bushes, and kill mosquito larvae.

Dien Bich has also invested in 2 disinfectant sprayers in the whole commune. Currently, 17 dengue fever patients have recovered, and 9 people are being treated at the district general hospital.

Treatment for dengue fever patients at Dien Chau General Hospital. Photo: Mai Giang

After Dien Bich, on March 11, the epidemic broke out in Dien Ngoc and there have been 5 cases of dengue fever, of which 4 have been cured. These are two coastal localities with the characteristics of small land, crowded population, and limited environmental sanitation, so the epidemic breaks out almost every year.

So far, Dien Chau has 31 cases of dengue fever, of which 21 have recovered, and 10 are currently being treated at the District General Hospital. This year, the dengue fever epidemic is complicated and unpredictable. In previous years, the epidemic usually broke out around September, but this year, Dien Chau broke out in early March.

Localities spray disinfectant to prevent dengue fever. Photo: Mai Giang

According to the forecast of the District Health Center, with the current rainy and humid weather and strong mosquito growth, the risk of dengue fever outbreaks is very high. Therefore, the health sector as well as localities are implementing a system of anti-epidemic measures such as: Strengthening information and propaganda work so that people know how to prevent the epidemic. Communes with epidemics and communes at high risk organize environmental sanitation campaigns, collect waste, and kill mosquito larvae in households and communities.

Arrange for doctors and nurses to be on duty at the 24/7 emergency medical station to receive, classify patients, and provide treatment according to the Ministry of Health's instructions. Spray chemicals to kill mosquitoes in communes with epidemics and key communes at risk of epidemics. Monitor mosquito and larvae indexes, forecast epidemics, and monitor dengue fever cases.

Over the past two days, Dien Chau has not recorded any new cases of dengue fever.