Nghe An: Resolutely suppressing dengue fever in Nghi Quang commune (Nghi Loc)

1 commune has 2 outbreaks with 70 cases

According to a report from Nghe An Center for Disease Control: From the beginning of 2022 to July 31, 2022, 218 patients with COVID-19 appeared in the province.dengue fever. Of which, there are 105 imported patients and 113 domestic patients. 113 domestic cases are in 7 localities, including Nghi Loc district (70 cases), Dien Chau district (23 cases), Anh Son district (6 cases), Quynh Luu district (5 cases), Hoang Mai town (4 cases), Quy Hop district (3 cases), Yen Thanh district (2 cases)... 100 patients have recovered, 13 patients are currently being treated, and no patients have died.

Leaders of the Provincial Center for Disease Control reported on the situation of Dengue fever in the province in general and Nghi Loc district in particular. Photo: Thanh Chung

In Nghi Loc district alone, there are 9 cases.dengue feverimported in 08 communes (Nghi Thinh, Nghi Kieu, Nghi Dong, Nghi Phuong, Nghi Long, Khanh Hop, Nghi Yen, Nghi Thach)... Particularly in Nghi Quang commune (the commune with the old epidemic), from May 24 to now, 2 dengue fever outbreaks have appeared with 70 internal cases. On average, 1.02 cases are recorded each day. The most recent new case in Nghi Quang was on July 29... 5 communes in the district are currently at high risk of dengue fever: Nghi Quang, Nghi Thiet, Nghi Yen, Nghi Tien, Nghi Xuan.

Nghe An Center for Disease Control stated: The situation of new dengue fever cases in Nghi Loc in particular and the whole province in general has tended to decrease in the past week. Through monitoring at 2 outbreaks in Nghi Quang commune, the disease vector index has gradually decreased through monitoring; the most recent monitoring did not detect disease-transmitting mosquitoes but still detected larvae nests...

Monitoring disease vectors in Nghi Quang commune. Photo: Document

However, people's awareness is still subjective, negligent, not reporting in time when symptoms are mild, not implementing disease prevention measures strictly; people's customs, lifestyles, high population density in the epidemic area, houses close together create favorable conditions for mosquitoes to transmit the disease. This is the reason why the epidemic control in Nghi Quang commune cannot be completely implemented.

Cause of outbreak

Information from Nghi Loc district: The objective cause of dengue fever outbreak in the area is due to the hot and warm weather in May, June, and July, alternating between rain and sunshine, creating favorable conditions for mosquitoes to develop; the number of dengue fever cases increased compared to the same period last year. Subjectively, Nghi Quang is a coastal commune with high population density. Households live close together, many houses are abandoned. Environmental sanitation work in the commune is not well implemented; garbage dumps have not been collected in the right place. In households, there are many water containers, jars, and many objects with stagnant water.

Leaders of Nghi Loc District People's Committee reported on dengue fever prevention work in the area. Photo: Thanh Chung

Although the commune has an old dengue fever outbreak, in the early stages of the epidemic, the departments and agencies in the commune were not proactive and determined in preventing and fighting dengue fever. Environmental sanitation and mosquito larvae eradication campaigns were not maintained regularly and continuously.

To prevent dengue fever, Nghi Loc district has directed the Fatherland Front and district organizations to organize propaganda in many forms; instructing people to re-plan residential areas and how to store water for daily use in households; propagating to people to regularly clean the residential environment, eliminate mosquito larvae as much as possible; instructing people to cover water tanks tightly, and regularly wash tanks, jars, and pots.

Nghi Quang commune authorities deploy environmental sanitation and epidemic prevention. Photo: document

Nghi Loc district has also coordinated with the provincial Center for Disease Control to conduct training on dengue fever prevention for the steering committees of communes, towns and officials working on disease prevention in the district; monitor vector indexes, monitor patients and the environment in Nghi Quang commune; detect cases early, surround and handle them promptly; provide chemicals to handle outbreaks; send officials to support Nghi Quang commune; provide professional guidance in epidemic handling.

Nghi Quang commune has strengthened regular environmental sanitation in Thanh Vinh 1 and Thanh Vinh 2 hamlets (2 hamlets with outbreaks); implemented an environmental sanitation campaign throughout the commune; continuously communicated on mass media about dengue fever; deployed chemical spraying in epidemic areas and high-risk areas... Nghi Quang commune has drawn up administrative records to handle 2 cases of sleeping without mosquito nets while family members had dengue fever.

Focus on prevention and control of dengue fever

At the meeting, comrade Duong Dinh Chinh - Deputy Head of the Provincial Disease Prevention and Control Committee, Director of Nghe An Department of Health highly appreciated the sense of responsibility of the Steering Committee for Disease Prevention and Control of Nghi Loc district and Nghi Quang commune in the work of preventing and controlling dengue fever.

Nghe An Province's Steering Committee for Disease Prevention and Control works with Nghi Loc District. Photo: Thanh Chung

However, the Deputy Head of the Disease Prevention and Control Board of Nghe An province also pointed out: In the disease prevention work in the district, there are still certain loopholes that allow the disease to persist in the community. This is a risk that dengue fever will spread and break out in the coming rainy season. The loopholes in dengue fever prevention work are: Living conditions and habits of people in coastal areas; low awareness of people; subjectivity of some officials.

Comrade Duong Dinh Chinh requested: Based on the lessons learned from the epidemic prevention in Nghi Quang commune, the Medical Center in coordination with the Nghi Loc District Health Department advises Nghi Loc District to develop a scenario for dengue fever prevention in the entire district. In which, clearly state the responsibilities of the health agency; the responsibilities of departments, branches, and organizations in the political system. Nghi Loc District General Hospital needs to develop a treatment scenario for dengue fever patients at the unit and at medical stations.

Deploying chemical spraying to prevent and control dengue fever. Photo: document

Nghi Loc district needs to focus on preventing and controlling dengue fever in Nghi Quang commune to avoid the spread of the disease; continue to resolutely implement disease prevention and control measures according to regulations; review and evaluate points and contents that have not been implemented or have not been implemented effectively in the implemented activities to overcome them.

Communes and towns need to carry out the 4 on-site work well; prepare adequate chemicals and materials for epidemic prevention and control; promote the role and responsibility of leaders; further promote communication and propaganda work, especially promoting the effectiveness of the grassroots broadcasting system to change people's awareness, so that people can directly participate in the work of preventing fever and dengue; strengthen inspection, supervision and handling of violations./.