Nghe An warns of risk of dengue fever outbreak in Hoang Mai town
(Baonghean.vn) - As an old dengue fever outbreak area, with a high mosquito density and larvae index, Quynh Phuong ward, Hoang Mai town is at risk of a dengue fever outbreak if there is no drastic intervention from the Party Committee, government and all the people.
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| A working group from the Nghe An Department of Health inspected water tanks in households in the epidemic area - places that may contain mosquito larvae. Photo: Thanh Chung |
According to the report of Nghe An Center for Disease Control: Dengue fever outbreak in Dien Chau district since March 7, 2020, up to now there have been 386 cases of dengue fever. Of which, 10/12 hamlets of Dien Ngoc commune have 35 cases of dengue fever, 31 of which have been cured; 8/8 hamlets of Dien Bich commune have 346 cases of dengue fever (114 cases of patients under 15 years old), 346 of which have been cured.
Immediately after the outbreak, the Department of Health and the Nghe An Center for Disease Control sent a working group to coordinate with local authorities and the Dien Chau District Medical Center to deploy zoning measures to prevent the epidemic from spreading in the area.
In 2020, the dengue fever epidemic in Nghe An continued to develop in a complicated and unpredictable manner and occurred earlier than previous years (usually breaking out from July onwards). The main reason is that dengue fever is an endemic disease in Nghe An. Hot and rainy weather creates favorable conditions for mosquitoes to develop. The large number of people moving around increases the risk of bringing the disease back. Since the beginning of the year, in addition to 386 cases of dengue fever in Nghe An, 24 more cases of imported dengue fever have been detected.
Faced with the complicated and rapidly spreading dengue fever epidemic, in addition to the drastic participation of the health sector, localities have been implementing many anti-epidemic measures.
Dien Chau district has spent nearly 600 million VND on communication work and medical equipment; directed the District Youth Union, Border Guard Station, and Medical Center to coordinate with localities to simultaneously clean up the environment, kill mosquito larvae, release more than 3,000 baby fish into water tanks in households; provided 130 liters of chemicals to spray to kill adult mosquitoes in all households and offices in Dien Bich commune.
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| Leaders of Nghe An Province Center for Disease Control visit dengue fever patients being treated at Dien Chau General Hospital. Photo: Thanh Chung |
Dr. Nguyen Van Dinh - Director of Nghe An Center for Disease Control said: This is just the beginning of the epidemic. In the coming time, the epidemic is at risk of breaking out even more strongly. In addition to the participation of the health sector, authorities at all levels in Dien Chau district and especially Hoang Mai town must take drastic action, further enhance the spirit of fighting the epidemic, prepare response plans; and need to promote communication activities to prevent and control dengue fever.
Environmental sanitation work needs to be maintained regularly and closely monitored, dengue fever patients must be detected early and treated promptly at the commune health station to limit the transfer of patients to other facilities and spread the disease; promptly contain the epidemic, not allowing it to spread in the area./.
To strengthen the prevention and control of dengue fever, on July 3, 2020, the Ministry of Health sent Official Dispatch No. 3608/BYT-DP to 12 People's Committees of provinces/cities that continuously recorded high weekly dengue fever cases. Among these 12 provinces/cities is Nghe An province.
The Ministry of Health requested the People's Committees of provinces and cities to continue to pay attention to directing and assigning the People's Committees at all levels to directly direct and more strongly implement activities to eradicate mosquito larvae in the area in July 2020; the local health sector to closely monitor the thorough handling of dengue fever outbreaks; organize chemical spraying in 100% of households in the outbreak area; direct medical examination and treatment facilities to organize well the admission and treatment of patients.