Closely monitor the dengue fever outbreak in Hung Long.

(Baonghean) - As of the afternoon of September 28th, there were 18 dengue fever patients in Hung Long commune (Hung Nguyen district). Although the health sector and local authorities have made efforts to treat patients and implement measures to control the outbreak, the risk of the disease spreading may still remain...

On the afternoon of September 28th, we were present in Hung Long commune (Hung Nguyen district), which is currently considered the epicenter of the dengue fever outbreak in the area. In Hamlet 7, district health officials were directing the commune's health center to spray insecticide, spread mosquito repellent, and disinfect mosquito larvae. At the commune's health station, there are still 7 dengue fever cases receiving intensive treatment. Since the first case appeared on September 18th, the entire commune has recorded 18 cases, of which 11 have recovered.

Phan Hong Quan (from Hamlet 7B, Hung Long Commune) is suffering from dengue fever and is currently receiving treatment at the commune's health station.

However, it's worth noting that new cases are being reported every day. On September 27th, there were 3 cases, and on September 28th, there were 2 more. Given the complex development of the epidemic, local residents are quite worried and anxious. Ms. Phan Thi Loan (Hamlet 7B), whose 3-year-old child has been suffering from dengue fever for the past two days and is being treated at the commune's health station, said that when her child showed symptoms of fever, the family took her to the health station and learned that she had dengue fever. “Currently, my child still has a high fever, is tired, has a headache, and has a poor appetite. I have to take time off work to stay home and take care of her, worrying about her food and drink, fearing she will become exhausted,” Ms. Loan said.

According to our investigation, dengue fever cases are concentrated in hamlets 9A and 7A, with some scattered cases in hamlets 7B and 8. Of the 18 dengue fever cases in Hung Long commune at the time of our visit, 17 were students and children under 15 years old. Local residents are concerned that the disease will continue to spread in the school environment. Mr. Nguyen Van Binh (hamlet 7A), whose daughter Nguyen Thi Phuong is in 9th grade at Le Xuan Dao Secondary School, said: “My eldest child has had to miss school for 3 days because of dengue fever. But I am very worried about my younger child who is in secondary school and other family members who may also get infected.”

Immediately after three dengue fever cases appeared on September 18th, Hung Long commune directed health officials to actively receive, classify, and isolate patients for treatment. Mr. Ho Van Hung, Head of the Hung Long Commune Health Station, said that the Commune People's Committee had issued a directive to village health officials and private medical facilities prohibiting them from treating patients at home. The commune health station, in coordination with village health officials, actively disseminated information about dengue fever to the people; and instructed residents to go to the health station immediately for timely treatment if they experience any symptoms of the disease.

Spraying pesticides to prevent and control disease outbreaks in Hung Long commune (Hung Nguyen district).

Currently, the health sector is actively working to control the outbreak and address environmental pollution. Mr. Chu Trong Trang, Deputy Director of the Provincial Center for Preventive Medicine, stated: "Over the past month, the Department of Health has issued numerous directives to the district health centers, coordinating with local health stations to strengthen dengue fever prevention and control. On September 25th, the Department of Health continued to establish an inspection team to go to Hung Long commune to directly supervise the local authorities in containing and controlling the outbreak. The Provincial Center for Preventive Medicine has provided 70 liters of insecticide for adult mosquito control and over 300 packets of insecticide to disinfect water sources in ponds and ditches, and to eliminate mosquito larvae to limit the spread of the disease. To date, Hung Long commune has implemented spraying in 3 hamlets, and it is expected that by September 29th, spraying will be completed in 5 hamlets (7A, 7B, 9A, 9B, hamlet 8) and schools in the area."

To prevent the spread of dengue fever to other communes, Hung Nguyen district is increasing the number of health workers directly deployed to the affected hamlet and neighboring hamlets of Hung Long commune to monitor and investigate the outbreak. The district's Health Center, in coordination with Hung Long commune, is organizing environmental sanitation campaigns in the hamlet, eliminating mosquito larvae in each household, encouraging people to release fish into water tanks, focusing on reducing mosquito breeding grounds, and eradicating larvae in the community; at the same time, they are educating people on disease prevention and control, closely monitoring dengue fever patients and mosquitoes…

Thus, from the end of August until now, the province has recorded 3 dengue fever outbreaks in the following communes: Quynh Ngoc (Quynh Luu district) with 14 cases, Hung Linh (Hung Nguyen district) with 10 cases, and currently Hung Long (Hung Nguyen district) with 18 cases. Given the complex development of the disease, the health sector has intensified measures to prevent its spread. It is predicted that in the coming period, the weather will be unpredictable, creating favorable conditions for mosquitoes to breed and develop. Therefore, doctors and medical staff advise that, in addition to the efforts of the health sector, people need to raise their awareness and proactively prevent and control the disease to protect themselves.

Text and photos:

Dinh Nguyet