Vietnam Ministry Sets up Eight Inspection Teams to Fight Dengue Fever

Vietnam’s Ministry of Health has set up eight teams to inspect the prevention and fighting against dengue fever in 20 provinces and cities, state media reported. The move came after the country had recorded over 96,000 dengue fever cases with 12 deaths in the year to date, up three times y/y in the number of cases, the national broadcaster Vietnam Television said. The 20 localities include Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Thap, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Dinh, Danang City, Quang Nam, Gia Lai, Dak Nong, Dak Lak, Ninh Thuan, Phu Yen, Dong Nai, and Tay Ninh. Recently, a research group from the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City announced that they have completed research into a vaccine against dengue fever, which is awaiting ethical approval from the Ministry of Health before being put into use. Earlier at a regular press briefing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last week, the ministry’s spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang responded to reporters’ queries about foreign visitors’ concern about dengue fever epidemic in Vietnam. Ms. Hang said that Vietnam has experienced in dealing with the disease, and so far the epidemic has not hurt the local tourism environment. (VTV, QDND, Nhan Dan, Lao Dong, VTV, Vietnam Plus, tapchibaohiemxahoi, dnrtv, giadinh, thuonghieucongluan, Suc Khoe Doi Song, mofa)