How is the world responding to dengue fever outbreaks?

(Baonghean.vn) - The dengue fever epidemic has now appeared and spread to 61 provinces and cities in our country. Other countries around the world have also experienced dengue fever outbreaks, and how have they dealt with them?

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According to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), there are approximately 400 million cases of dengue fever each year, with 1% resulting in death, and 40% of the world's population is potentially infected with the disease.

This year, dengue fever outbreaks are showing signs of occurring in many countries such as Portugal, France, the United States, and Japan. Some countries like China, Malaysia, Cambodia, and India are also experiencing an increase in cases after many years without outbreaks.

1. USA

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Despite being a developed country with advanced medical technology, the United States is not immune to dengue fever outbreaks among its citizens. The US government, along with the European Union (EU), jointly funded Sanofi, a healthcare giant, to research and develop vaccines against the Zika virus and dengue fever virus in early 2016. The project cost nearly $1.65 billion, covering research, production, and approval processes in 20 countries worldwide.

Currently, millions of vaccine doses have been produced and are ready for distribution to the EU and countries in Asia and Latin America. However, the US government and other countries are still conducting small-scale trials on a few subjects in their research groups to monitor the development of resistance to the virus.

2. Mexico

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In December 2016, Mexico approved and authorized the use of the world's first vaccine against the dengue virus. Notably, this vaccine was developed by Sanofi and proposed for testing in the aforementioned countries. Although it has been reported to be safe and effective, this vaccine is primarily for people aged 9 to 45 and is not intended for young children.

The Mexican government has stated that it will prioritize vaccination in areas experiencing outbreaks and at high risk of infection. The Mexican National Immunization Committee will also consider providing the vaccine free of charge nationwide.

3. Philippines

Following Mexico, the Philippines is the second country to launch a large-scale dengue fever vaccination program using Sanofi's vaccine. Philippine Health Minister Janette Garin stated that the program is being implemented across the public health system and in public schools. Specifically, over 1 million students in 6,000 schools in the country's most dengue-prone areas have been vaccinated.

The Philippines is one of the Asian countries most affected by this devastating disease. In 2013, approximately 200,000 people contracted the illness.

4. Singapore

Spraying disinfectant to prevent disease outbreaks in Singapore. Photo: Getty

Similar to Japan, Singapore has chosen an environmentally friendly approach to dengue prevention. A vector control program, developed and implemented since 1968, identifies areas with high disease rates and mosquito larvae breeding grounds. Upon receiving the results, the Singaporean government cleans and eliminates the breeding grounds for mosquito larvae, preventing outbreaks.

5. Japan

Since 2014, Japan has once again faced a resurgence of dengue fever, which was believed to have completely disappeared in 1945. These cases are thought to be transmitted from tourists visiting Tokyo, a phenomenon known as imported dengue fever.

The Japanese government has undertaken environmental cleanup and remediation efforts. Medical and rescue personnel, dressed in protective gear and masks, have been deployed to spray mosquito repellent and drain public drainage systems.

6. Vietnam

Spraying insecticide to kill mosquitoes helps prevent dengue fever outbreaks.

The Preventive Medicine Department stated that following new recommendations from the WHO regarding vaccine licensing this year, Vietnam will make its own decision on the circulation of the new vaccine. However, health experts believe that before official application, this vaccine must still go through a process of clinical research, efficacy evaluation, and completion of necessary procedures, which is expected to take several years.

In Vietnam, on July 20th, a conference on strengthening dengue fever prevention and control was held with the participation of many health experts from across the country. According to statistics, the number of dengue fever cases nationwide is currently 57,492, with 15 deaths, an increase of nearly 10% compared to 2016. The epidemic is believed to be progressing in an increasingly severe direction.

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(Synthetic)