Vietnam Ministry Warns of Seasonal Diseases

The Department of Preventive Medicine under Vietnam’s Ministry of Health has warned public of streptococcus, acute diarrhea, poisoning and upward trend of diseases such as flu, measles, mumps, and dengue during the winter-spring season of the year, state media reported. Head of the Department Dr. Tran Dac Phu said that during the winter-spring season falls on the Lunar New Year, people consume a large quantity of cattle and poultry. Yet, the control of sales, transport and slaughter of cattle and poultry is loose. Though the number of patients infected with streptococcus is not high as much as other diseases, most of them face risk of death. Medical experts said that swine streptococcus will disability and death if they do not get the treatment in time. The mortality rate is up to 7%. In 2016, the country recorded the circulation of flu A (H3), A/H1N1 and flu B with the rate of 46.1%, 18.2% and 35.8% of total infection cases, respectively. At present the country has not had flu A/H7N9 and A/H5N6 yet the ministry warned of high possibility in the winter-spring season. The Department said that in 2017, the diseases will develop complicatedly due to many causes including traveling between countries, urbanization, climate change and tradition. The sector will tighten monitor in border crossings nationwide. (baogiaothong.vn Jan 12, sggp.org.vn Jan 12)