According to the statistics of the Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health): from the beginning of the year until now, there are more than 250,000 people suffering from dengue fever, including 50 deaths in 18 provinces and cities. Compared to 2018, the number of infected people increased by 2.9 times; However, the mortality rate is lower than in 2018. As for Coxsackievirus A16, there are nearly 85,000 people infected in 63 provinces and cities with 1 death. There are more than 41,000 typhus cases suspected of measles, of which 8,209 cases of positive measles infection and 3 deaths in Son La, Hoa Binh, Ha Nam ... In addition, locals continue to record cases of diseases such as diphtheria, human streptococcus, meningococcal meningitis, pertussis, Japanese encephalitis (JEV), viral encephalitis ...

Dr. Dang Quang Tan, Deputy Director in charge of the Department of Preventive Medicine, said that the winter - spring season with humid weather, especially increased traffic exchange during the Lunar New Year and festivals is a favorable condition for epidemic outbreaks such as influenza, measles, streptococcus suis, acute diarrhea, avian influenza, dengue fever, Coxsackievirus A16, diphtheria, rubella, dysentery ... In addition, this is the time when people's demand for food from poultry increases; Increased international traffic and trade lead to the risk of emerging dangerous infectious diseases. Diseases from animals to humans tend to increase, while the solutions for pathogens in livestock is still inadequate. Diseases such as measles, diphtheria, whooping cough ... are at risk of outbreaks in remote, isolated and ethnic minority communes where immunization rates are low. The authorities in some local areas didn't really cared and directing functional agencies to coordinate with the health sector in implementing drastic measures to prevent and control epidemics in the community; People's awareness is limited ...

In order to proactively implement measures to prevent and control diseases, especially to ensure health and safety of the populace during the Lunar New Year of 2020 and the Spring festivals, the Ministry of Health requests People's Committees at all levels to focus on directing unions in the area coordinate closely with the health sector to strengthen surveillance for early detection of outbreaks in the community, especially close monitoring of objects and subject to quarantine at border gates. The local health sector shall organize the investigation, localize the handling of outbreaks and promptly report cases of disease as prescribed; review and prepare a full list of drugs, chemicals and equipment to meet the needs of epidemic prevention and control; ensure timely and adequate supply of vaccines and expanding disease prevention. Treatment facilities concentrate resources and personnel to collect, quarantine, treat and rescue patients to minimize the number of deaths; locals, health facilities have training in preventing and fighting against hospital infections, training in the treatment of patients and promptly providing technical and professional support to locals and unions at lower levels when required.

The locals continue to effectively expand deploy of vaccination work, ensuring sufficient and timely injections of diseases, especially for measles, rubella, pertussis, diphtheria, encephalitis, health care facilities should review patients, organize vaccination, supplementary vaccination and organize vaccination campaigns to ensure that the full vaccination rate reaches at least 95% of the commune or ward scale. People strictly follow the recommendations on prevention and control of winter-spring diseases in the health sector; When signs of epidemic are suspected, immediately notify medical establishments for timely guidance, examination and handling ...