More than 9,000 cases, 4 children died from hand, foot and mouth disease
The deaths from hand, foot and mouth disease in the South were all positive for EV71. They were transferred to Ho Chi Minh City for the most severe treatment and did not survive.
According to a report from the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, up to now, the entire Southern region has recorded 9,028 cases.hand, foot and mouth disease. Of which, 4 deaths were due to hand, foot and mouth disease level 4 and positive for EV71.
In Ho Chi Minh City, the number of cases has increased rapidly over the past 4 weeks, accumulating to this point 2,407 cases and no child deaths.
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Hand, foot and mouth disease treatment area at Children's Hospital 2, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Nguyen Hue |
Regarding the admission situation, hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City have received 936 inpatient cases of hand, foot and mouth disease, including 46 severe cases. The four deaths were children with serious illnesses transferred from other provinces. At this time, there are 147 children being hospitalized, including 14 critical cases requiring ventilators and 1 case of dialysis.
In order to proactively prepare resources for the treatment system to respond to the situation of an increase in the number of cases, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health has developed a response plan with 3 scenarios:
Scenario 1: When there are less than 50 new hospitalizations per day, less than 200 inpatients and less than 20 severe cases in hospitals. Accordingly, the total number of beds needed for hand, foot and mouth disease treatment is more than 200 beds, including 30 intensive care beds. Priority is given to treating sick children at 3 specialized pediatric hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City.
Second scenario: When the number of new hospitalizations per day increases from 50-100 cases, 200-700 inpatients and 20-70 severe cases in hospitals.
At present, the total number of treatment beds is 700, including 80 intensive care beds. Children are treated at 3 specialized pediatric and tropical disease hospitals.
Scenario three: When there are 100-200 new hand, foot and mouth disease cases hospitalized every day, 700-1,400 inpatients with about 70-140 severe cases.
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There are currently nearly 150 children with hand, foot and mouth disease hospitalized in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Nguyen Hue |
At this time, the total number of treatment beds that need to be prepared is 1,400 beds, with about 150 intensive care beds. Children with serious illnesses are treated at 3 specialized pediatric and tropical disease hospitals. The health system classifies children for outpatient and inpatient treatment, and routes treatment to avoid local overload and limit deaths.
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health recommends that units urgently prepare medicines and infusions, medical equipment and supplies for three scenarios. At the same time, this agency has sent a dispatch requesting the Drug Administration to support finding additional suppliers of special drugs, and recommended the National Institute for Control of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals to support accelerating the testing of medical biological products related to the treatment of hand, foot and mouth disease, and promptly allow imported drugs to be circulated.
In addition, three specialized hospitals for pediatrics and tropical diseases (Ho Chi Minh City) will provide professional support for hand, foot and mouth disease treatment to lower-level hospitals and provinces in the region, preventing unsafe transfer of patients from provinces to the city.
The team of hand, foot and mouth experts is on duty at the hotline, ready to provide professional support. If necessary, the tertiary hospital will proactively send experts to directly support the facility./.
