Dengue Fever Cases Triple y/y to 872 in Vietnam Ben Tre in Jan-June

Up to 872 cases of dengue fever, including one death, have been reported in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre over the last six months, tripling those in the same period last year, state media reported. According to Vice Director of the provincial Health Department Vo Hong Khanh, the districts of Binh Dai, Thanh Phu and Mo Cay Nam recorded the largest numbers of dengue infections. To cope with the situation, the province’s health sector has intensified supervision of dengue developments. Campaigns to raise public awareness of the importance of hygienic practices and waste collection, and those to spray mosquito repellent in high-risk areas have been operated across the locality, contributing to containing the spread of the disease. Locals were recommended to use mosquito nets and cover tightly water containers to hinder mosquitoes from laying eggs. They were also advised to swiftly go for a medical examination to timely detect the disease. (baochinhphu.vn June 21)