Many risks of widespread disease outbreaks.
(Baonghean.vn) - In 2024, Nghe An province has been facing many dangerous infectious diseases. These diseases are developing in a complex manner and pose a risk of widespread outbreaks.
Multiple risks
Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a warning about the increasing number of measles cases and the risk of measles outbreaks in many regions worldwide. According to WHO data, in Europe, the number of cases in 2023 was over 300,000, more than 30 times higher than in 2022. In the Western Pacific region, the number of measles cases increased by 255% from 2022 to 2023.
According to the World Health Organization, in Vietnam, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the disruption of vaccine supply in the Expanded Immunization Program in 2023 have affected the vaccination rates of children nationwide. Many children have not been vaccinated on schedule or have not received all the necessary doses in recent years, posing a risk of disease outbreaks, including measles.
According to information from the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, from the beginning of 2024 to the present, 78 cases of fever and rash suspected of being measles or rubella have been recorded in provinces and cities in the northern region. Of these, 12 cases of measles were confirmed by laboratory tests in 4 provinces and cities, and 10 cases of rubella were recorded in 7 provinces and cities. Notably, a cluster of measles cases was recorded in Duc Tho district, Ha Tinh province, among children under 10 years old.
Of the 16 measles cases in Duc Tho district, 6 were treated in Nghe An province from March 18-26 (5 cases were treated at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, and 1 case at Vinh International Hospital). Information gathered from the patients' families revealed that none of these patients had been vaccinated against measles.
In 2024, besides measles, Vietnam is facing attacks from many other diseases, especially zoonotic diseases which are developing in a complex manner. These include: a surge in rabies cases with 27 deaths since the beginning of the year; and avian influenza – A/H5N1, after more than 8 years without any recorded human cases, with 2 new cases reported since 2022, including one death due to avian influenza on March 23, 2024 in Khanh Hoa province…
The risk of disease outbreaks in Vietnam stems from various sources. In some neighboring countries, there has recently been a continued increase in human cases of avian influenza A/H5N1: Cambodia (since February 2023), China… In March 2024, Laos detected three cases of anthrax infection due to consuming meat from dead livestock.
Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong informed: In Vietnam, many zoonotic diseases are circulating and have a significant impact on people's health, such as rabies, avian influenza A/H5N1, streptococcal infection in humans, anthrax, leptospirosis (yellow leptospirosis)... The simultaneous circulation of these viruses, along with the increased adaptability of mammals, is a worrying factor that could lead to an increase in disease outbreaks in the future.
Actively and proactively prevent and control
In Nghe An province, since the beginning of the year, although no dangerous diseases such as measles or avian influenza have appeared, there has been one case of rabies resulting in death in Mon Son commune (Con Cuong district). In addition, several other diseases have occurred in the province, with a high number of cases and a significant risk of widespread outbreaks.
According to information from the Nghe An Provincial Center for Disease Control: From the beginning of the year to March 30th, 37 cases of whooping cough were recorded in 30 communes, wards, and towns across 13 districts, towns, and Vinh City, specifically: Nghi Loc (9 cases), Vinh City (6 cases), Do Luong (4 cases), Yen Thanh (3 cases), Thanh Chuong (3 cases), Tan Ky (2 cases), Hung Nguyen (2 cases), Nam Dan (2 cases), Quynh Luu (2 cases), Que Phong (1 case), Cua Lo Town (1 case), Dien Chau (1 case), Hoang Mai Town (1 case)... with no fatalities.
Simultaneously, 50 cases of dengue fever were recorded, including 34 local cases (14 in Quynh Luu, 9 in Hoang Mai town, 8 in Dien Chau, and 3 in Vinh city) and 16 imported cases (5 in Dien Chau, 3 in Hoang Mai town, 1 in Quynh Luu, 3 in Yen Thanh, 2 in Nghi Loc, 1 in Vinh city, and 1 in Anh Son). In addition, there were 4,220 cases of influenza, 811 cases of diarrhea, and 197 cases of chickenpox.
According to the Provincial Center for Disease Control, in recent years, Nghe An has had sources and circulation of many dangerous infectious diseases in the community. The risk of disease entry and outbreaks is even greater because the province is located in a geographical position favorable for trade and travel, so there is a high possibility of many imported cases entering the province.
Furthermore, in 2023, along with other localities nationwide, Nghe An experienced a shortage of several basic vaccines in the expanded immunization program due to a supply crisis. This shortage resulted in many children not receiving vaccinations and active immunity. This poses a risk of the resurgence of previously eradicated diseases such as whooping cough and measles.
We must not be complacent but must actively and proactively implement fully and synchronously the disease prevention and control measures and solutions directed by the Ministry of Health, the Provincial People's Committee, and the Department of Health.
DR. CHU TRONG TRANG - DIRECTOR OF THE NGHE AN CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
Relevant levels, sectors, localities, and units need to strengthen their leadership and management, acting decisively, promptly, correctly, comprehensively, proactively, and flexibly, adapting to the actual situation to prevent and control epidemics; preventing and controlling epidemics according to the "four on-the-spot" principle; continuously improving the ability to assess and predict epidemics; developing effective epidemic prevention and control scenarios; promoting communication about epidemics; strengthening training for officials working in epidemic prevention and control at all levels; allocating sufficient funds and having ready equipment, medicines, and chemicals to respond to any epidemic situations that may arise.
Disease prevention and control is the responsibility of the entire community. Each individual citizen also needs to actively participate in disease prevention and control by improving their knowledge of disease prevention and seeking immediate medical attention at healthcare facilities when experiencing unusual health symptoms for advice and guidance.
