People should not be subjective with dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis.

Another case of Japanese encephalitis appeared

Information from the Nghe An Province Center for Disease Control: Recently, another case of Japanese encephalitis has appeared in the province in Cham Puong village, Luong Minh commune, Tuong Duong district. The infected child is NVQ, 10 years old.

The Provincial Center for Disease Control and the Tuong Duong District Medical Center sent a working group to investigate a case of Japanese encephalitis in Cham Puong village, Luong Minh commune, Tuong Duong district. Photo: Thanh Chung

On June 18, NVQ showed symptoms of high fever, convulsions, and vomiting, so his family called the local health department to check his temperature. After that, he was given fever-reducing medicine but it did not help and so he was transferred to Tuong Duong District Health Center on June 19. Then, NVQ was transferred to the upper level, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital. Test results showed that NVQ was positive for Japanese encephalitis.

Upon receiving the information, the Provincial Center for Disease Control and the Tuong Duong District Medical Center sent a working group to investigate and handle the situation. Doctor Bui Tien Dung - Head of the Department of Infectious Disease Prevention, Center for Disease Control said: For the past month, NVQ has only stayed in the locality with his family, not gone anywhere far. No one in the area around his house and village has come back from far away. He himself has not been vaccinated.Japanese encephalitisThe health station reminded the family many times about the Japanese encephalitis vaccination schedule, but the family did not take the child for vaccination.

Currently, apart from NVQ, the health of all family members on both sides is normal. Through investigation, the team has not discovered any disease vectors. The team believes that patient NVQ is a case of internal disease.

It is known that the entire Cham Puong village has 208 children under 15 years old. Cham Puong village and the entire Luong Minh commune have not had any more suspected cases of Japanese encephalitis… Luong Minh is a commune in a particularly difficult area. Environmental sanitation conditions here are not guaranteed, only 67% of households have toilets.

Through investigation, the team has not discovered any disease vectors. The team determined that patient NVQ is a case of internal disease. Photo: Thanh Chung

To handle this new case of Japanese encephalitis, the Provincial Center for Disease Control has directed and coordinated with the Tuong Duong District Medical Center to monitor vectors and the environment in the village; spray chemicals to treat the environment; advise and coordinate with local authorities to implement activities to prevent and control Japanese encephalitis such as communicating about the disease; review cases that have not been vaccinated or have not received enough doses of Japanese encephalitis vaccine to conduct vaccination.

Before this case, on May 25, 2022, Nghe An also discovered a positive case of Japanese encephalitis in Thanh Tien commune, Thanh Chuong district. Doctor Bui Tien Dung stated: To prevent the disease, all people need to proactively clean the environment; eliminate mosquito larvae nests and stagnant water; sleep under mosquito nets to avoid mosquito bites, regularly use measures to prevent, fight and destroy mosquitoes in households...

And in particular, everyone needs to get vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis fully and on schedule. Vaccination is applied to adults and children of age (from 12 months of age and older in the expanded immunization program). Vaccination must ensure 3 basic doses: The first dose when the child is just 1 year old, the second dose is given 1-2 weeks after the first dose, the third dose is given one year after the second dose.

Do not be subjective with dengue fever

This summer, in addition to the two cases of Japanese encephalitis mentioned above and two cases of diphtheria in Pha Danh commune, Ky Son district, Nghe An is still facing many epidemic risks such as Covid-19 and dengue fever.

According to the report of the Nghe An Provincial Center for Disease Control, since the beginning of the year, Nghe An has recorded 55 cases of dengue fever, including 40 domestic cases and 15 imported cases. As of June 24, 24 cases have recovered, 31 cases are being treated at home and medical facilities. The epidemic has been recorded in 6 districts and towns; with 6 different outbreaks in 4 communes in 3 districts and towns, of which 5 outbreaks are active.

Since the beginning of the year, Nghe An has recorded 55 cases of dengue fever, of which 40 are internal cases. Photo: Thanh Chung

Specifically, including: The outbreak in Quang Trung block, Quynh Di ward, Hoang Mai town (recorded on May 26, with 2 cases, ended on June 9); The outbreak in Thanh Vinh 2 hamlet, Nghi Quang commune, Nghi Loc district (recorded on May 26, with 32 active cases); The outbreak in the North block, Dien Hong commune, Dien Chau district (recorded on June 18, with 1 active case); The outbreak in Hoa Thanh hamlet, Dien Hong commune, Dien Chau district (recorded on June 18, with 3 active cases); The outbreak in the South block, Dien Hong commune, Dien Chau district (recorded on June 19, with 1 active case); The outbreak in Yen Quang hamlet, Dien Ngoc commune, Dien Chau district (recorded on June 19, with 1 active case).

Comparing dengue fever cases in recent years (57 cases in 2016, 218 cases in 2017, 52 cases in 2018, 451 cases in 2019, 477 cases in 2020, 13 cases in 2021), it can be seen that the number of dengue fever cases in the first 6 months of 2022 is not high. However, we must not be subjective, because this is just the beginning of the epidemic season. The peak of the epidemic usually falls in July, August, September, October of the year... And at this time, there have been deaths due to dengue fever in the country.

Dr. Chu Trong Trang - Deputy Director of the Provincial Center for Disease Control said: Dengue fever is an acute infectious disease that can cause an epidemic caused by the Dengue virus. The disease is spread by Aedes mosquitoes biting people infected with the virus, then transmitting the disease to healthy people through bites. The two types of Aedes mosquitoes that transmit the disease are scientifically named Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, of which, mainly Aedes aegypti...

In epidemic areas, people's awareness of dengue fever prevention and control is still not good. Many people still leave unnecessary water containers, creating conditions for mosquitoes to develop. Photo: Thanh Chung

Nghe An is located in the tropical monsoon climate zone. The weather is hot and rainy, creating favorable conditions for mosquitoes to develop. The number of migrants is large, and people's awareness in some places is not high, so the risk of bringing the disease back is very high. In the province, there are currently 5 key localities for dengue fever: Dien Chau, Hoang Mai Town, Quynh Luu, Nghi Loc, Hung Nguyen...

In the coming time, the number of dengue fever cases is at risk of continuing to increase due to favorable weather conditions for the development of disease-carrying mosquitoes; loosening of social distancing and increased travel and communication activities, increasing the density of crowds, so the number of cases is always at risk of increasing and spreading if drastic prevention and control measures are not implemented.

Dr. Chu Trong Trang stated: To effectively prevent and control dengue fever in the coming time, local authorities, departments, branches, organizations, and households need to strengthen the implementation of environmental sanitation campaigns, waste collection, and mosquito larvae eradication; actively deploy chemical spraying to kill adult mosquitoes in old epidemic areas and areas at risk of epidemic warning. All levels and branches need to continue to promote communication about dengue fever and prevention and control methods so that people know and implement them.