Proactive dengue fever prevention and control

(Baonghean) - According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, dengue fever is currently occurring in 50 provinces and cities nationwide, with over 29,000 cases and 18 deaths. In Nghe An, since the end of August, two small outbreaks have appeared in Quynh Luu and Hung Nguyen districts. Given the increasingly complex developments of dengue fever, disease prevention and control efforts in the province have been and are being implemented vigorously.

On the morning of September 17th, we visited Hung Linh commune, Hung Nguyen district, where a dengue fever outbreak is occurring. Currently, commune health station staff are actively monitoring and treating three dengue fever patients, while also advising residents on prevention and control measures to avoid the spread of the disease. Two weeks prior, a dengue fever outbreak occurred in the area with 10 cases. Seven cases have recovered, while the remaining three patients are still being monitored and treated and are recovering well. It is known that immediately after the outbreak, the district health center dispatched staff to the affected area and surrounding hamlets to monitor and investigate the outbreak; launched environmental sanitation campaigns; and conducted public awareness campaigns on disease prevention and control, closely monitoring patients and mosquitoes that transmit dengue fever. A document was also issued requesting health stations in 23 communes and towns to strengthen disease prevention and control measures.

Health officials in Hung Linh commune (Hung Nguyen district) instruct residents on how to eliminate mosquito larvae to prevent dengue fever.

Previously, at the end of August 2015, a small outbreak was recorded in Quynh Ngoc commune, Quynh Luu district. By September 10th, there were 14 dengue fever cases in 5 hamlets, with 10 cases concentrated in hamlet 11. After the outbreak, Quynh Luu district promptly implemented control and containment measures: admitting, monitoring, and treating patients at the commune health station; mobilizing people to conduct general environmental sanitation; spraying chemicals to kill mosquitoes in 6 hamlets with dengue fever patients; and educating people on disease prevention measures. Currently, all 14 dengue fever patients have recovered, and no new cases have been detected in the past 7 days. After containing and containing the outbreak, Quynh Luu district continues to implement measures to limit the spread and prevent the disease in the community. Mr. Le Van Thao, Director of the Quynh Luu District Health Center, said that the local health sector is continuing to communicate, inspect, monitor, and guide people on how to prevent the disease. The district's dengue fever prevention and control steering committee has issued a directive to all communes in the district to strengthen disease prevention propaganda and regularly organize environmental sanitation campaigns (1-2 times/week in key communes where outbreaks frequently occur, and once/week in other communes).

Health workers at Hung Linh commune health station (Hung Nguyen district) examine and advise patients on how to take care of their health.

This is currently the peak season for dengue fever outbreaks. In particular, dengue fever cases tend to increase towards the end of each cycle, and in Nghe An province, 2015 was the final year of the disease cycle, so the risk of an outbreak was very high. Given this situation, on September 14th, the Provincial People's Committee issued Official Document No. 6470/UBND-VX "On implementing the Prime Minister's urgent directive on strengthening dengue fever prevention and control." Currently, the Department of Health, in coordination with the Clinical Medicine and Tropical Diseases Hospital, is organizing training courses for doctors and nurses from hospitals in key districts prone to outbreaks on dengue fever prevention and control; localities throughout the province are stepping up disease prevention and control activities.

Mr. Chu Trong Trang, Deputy Director of the Provincial Center for Preventive Medicine, said that during the outbreak, the Department of Health coordinated with the center to establish a monitoring and inspection team, and collaborated with local authorities to implement containment and control measures in Hung Linh and Quynh Ngoc communes. In addition, the health sector continued to maintain disease monitoring and control activities in key districts: Dien Chau, Quynh Luu, Nghi Loc, Hoang Mai town… It also directed district-level health centers to strengthen dengue fever prevention and control efforts; with the goal of monitoring and early detection of cases, and promptly and decisively controlling the outbreak to prevent a large-scale epidemic.

Text and photos:Dinh Nguyet