The Vietnamese Ministry of Health has called on local authorities to closely monitor and control infectious diseases, particularly the rising cases of respiratory infections, severe viral pneumonia, and common seasonal diseases such as measles, dengue fever, hand-foot-mouth disease, rabies, and avian influenza.
The health ministry’s Department of Preventive Medicine pointed out that the winter-spring climate, characterized by monsoon winds, dryness, and humidity, creates favorable conditions for disease-causing agents to spread. This increases the risk of respiratory, gastrointestinal, and zoonotic diseases.
To mitigate the risks, the health ministry has urged strengthened border health quarantine measures and proactive surveillance, including routine monitoring and event-based surveillance.
In 2024, Vietnam recorded 289,876 cases of seasonal influenza, with eight deaths, data from the Ministry of Health showed. While the number of cases dropped by 17.9% from 2023, the death toll increased by five.
Several provinces recorded high infection rates, including Thanh Hoa with 46,600 cases, Thai Binh with 26,345 cases, Nghe An with 17,949 cases, Ha Tinh with 14,073 cases, and Son La with 10,162 cases. (QDND)