Many risks of widespread disease outbreaks
(Baonghean.vn) - In 2024, Nghe An has been facing many dangerous infectious diseases. The diseases are evolving complicatedly and are at risk of widespread outbreaks.
Many risks
The World Health Organization recently warned of an increase in measles cases and the risk of measles outbreaks in many regions around the world. According to WHO data, in the European region, the number of cases in 2023 was more than 300,000, an increase of more than 30 times compared to 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 in recent times and the interruption of vaccine supply in the Expanded Immunization Program in 2023 have affected the vaccination rate of children nationwide. Many children have not been vaccinated on schedule or have not received enough doses of vaccines in recent years, which is a risk factor for disease outbreaks including measles.
According to information from the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, from the beginning of 2024 to now, 78 cases of rash fever suspected of measles and rubella have been recorded in the provinces and cities in the Northern region, including 12 measles cases confirmed in laboratories in 4 provinces and cities and 10 rubella cases in 7 provinces and cities; in particular, a cluster of measles cases was recorded in Duc Tho district, Ha Tinh province in children under 10 years old.
Of the 16 measles cases in Duc Tho district, 6 are currently being treated in Nghe An from March 18 to 26 (5 measles cases are being treated at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, 1 case is being treated at Vinh International Hospital). Information from the patients' families shows that all of these patients have not been vaccinated against measles.
In 2024, in addition to measles, Vietnam is facing attacks from many other epidemics, especially complicated animal-to-human epidemics. These include: Rabies has increased dramatically with 27 deaths since the beginning of the year. Avian influenza - influenza A/H5N1 after more than 8 years of not recording a case of avian influenza in humans, from 2022 to now, 2 new cases have been recorded, including 1 death due to avian influenza on March 23, 2024 in Khanh Hoa province...
The risk of an epidemic in Vietnam comes from many different sources. In some neighboring countries, there has been a recent increase in human cases of A/H5N1 influenza: Cambodia (since February 2023), China... In March 2024, Laos discovered 3 people infected with anthrax from eating dead livestock.
Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong informed: In the country, many diseases transmitted from animals to humans have been circulating and have had a great impact on people's health such as: rabies, influenza A/H5N1, human streptococcus, anthrax, leptospirosis (yellow skin disease)... The simultaneous circulation of viruses along with the increased adaptability in mammals is a worrying factor that could cause the epidemic to increase in the coming time.
Actively and proactively prevent and combat
In Nghe An, since the beginning of the year, although there have been no cases of dangerous diseases such as measles, bird flu, etc., there has been one case of rabies and death in Mon Son commune (Con Cuong). In addition, a number of epidemics have occurred in the province with a high number of cases and a high risk of widespread outbreaks.
Information from the Center for Disease Control of Nghe An province: From the beginning of the year to March 30, the province recorded 37 cases of whooping cough in 30 communes, wards and towns in 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 deaths.
At the same time, 50 cases of dengue fever were recorded, including 34 domestic cases (Quynh Luu 14 cases, Hoang Mai town 9 cases, Dien Chau 8 cases, Vinh city 3 cases) and 16 imported cases (Dien Chau 5 cases, Hoang Mai town 3 cases, Quynh Luu 1 case, Yen Thanh 3 cases, Nghi Loc 2 cases, Vinh city 1 case and Anh Son 1 case). In addition, there were 4,220 cases of flu, 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 of disease and many dangerous infectious diseases circulating in the community. The danger of disease infiltration and outbreak is even greater because the province is located in a geographical location favorable for trade and travel, so there is a possibility of many imported cases entering.
In addition, in 2023, along with other localities across the country, Nghe An suffered a shortage of some basic vaccines in the expanded immunization program due to a supply crisis. This shortage has left many children without vaccination and active immunity. These are the risks that lead to the return of some previously “extinguished” diseases such as whooping cough, measles, etc.
We must not be subjective but need to actively and proactively implement fully and synchronously the measures and solutions to prevent and control the epidemic as directed by the Ministry of Health, the Provincial People's Committee, and the Department of Health.
DR. CHU TRONG TRANG - DIRECTOR OF NGHE AN CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL
Relevant levels, sectors, localities and units need to strengthen direction and management, be drastic, timely, in the right direction, comprehensive, proactive, flexible, and appropriate to the actual situation to prevent and control epidemics; prevent and control epidemics according to the "4 on-site" principle; constantly improve the ability to identify and forecast epidemics; develop good epidemic prevention and control scenarios; promote communication work on epidemics; strengthen training for officials working on epidemic prevention and control at all levels; arrange adequate funding and prepare equipment, medicines and chemicals to respond to epidemic situations.
Disease prevention and control is the responsibility of the whole community. Each individual needs to actively participate in disease prevention and control by improving their knowledge of disease prevention and going to a medical facility immediately when they see unusual signs of health for advice and guidance.
