Today, Thursday, the Vietnamese Ministry of Health said that cases of dengue fever in Vietnam have doubled so far this year compared to the same period in 2021, warning its hospitals to prepare for more infections.
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease common in Southeast Asia that causes flu-like symptoms and no vaccine is available. Reuters said severe forms of it can lead to internal bleeding.
Vietnam recorded 89,120 dengue cases in the first six months, up from 35,936 the year before, an increase of 148%. The death toll tripled to 34 during the same period.
The country of 98 million people has typically recorded about 110,000 cases a year in recent years, with infections usually peaking between June and October.
“The number of cases is expected to continue to rise further, with the most severe cases hospitalized,” the ministry, which issued special guidance to health care providers this week, said.
“All hospitals at the provincial and district levels need to focus their resources on accepting and treating severe cases.”
HF