Vietnam Health Ministry Warns of Rising Infectious Diseases

Vietnam’s Ministry of Health has been taking drastic measures to prevent and control the alarming spread of dangerous infectious disease cases in the country, state media reported. According to a report from the General Department of Preventive Medicine, the country recorded over 45,000 cases of dengue fever in the first six months of the year, which rose 0.3% y/y and claimed 14 lives. As many as 367 people contracted viral encephalitis, of whom ten died in the period, up 0.8% in infection cases and down three cases in death toll compared to the same period last year. There were 62 cases of Japanese encephalitis recorded throughout the country, marking a year-on-year surge of 11.4%. Meanwhile, 35 people died of rabies as they did not go to the nearest medical clinics for necessary vaccines after being bitten by dogs. The ministry has set up 145 groups to inspect the disease prevention work in localities and launched a campaign to kill mosquito larvae in 39 cities and provinces across the country. The health sector will promote supervision and early detection of disease outbreaks while giving timely treatment to patients to prevent infections. (Bnews, Bao Hai Quan – Customs Newspaper July 13)