Vietnam’s capital city likely to become dengue fever hotspot

People visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi, Vietnam, June 27, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

HANOI – Vietnam's capital city Hanoi could become a hotspot for dengue fever soon, local media reported on Wednesday, citing the country's National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology, and Entomology.

The current dengue fever outbreak now varies by region, not following any specific cycle, and the reason for this was due to the fluctuating weather conditions in the northern region, according to head of the Department of Insects Nguyen Van Dung

Dengue fever has shown changing patterns with the increasing number of cases in the northern region compared to the same period last year, local newspaper Vietnam News reported, citing the institute's Department of Insects.

ALSO READ: Bangladesh reports highest daily toll of dengue this year till no

The city has recorded nearly 400 cases of dengue fever since early this year, a five-fold increase year-on-year, and the number of cases has been on the rise, local newspaper Vietnam News reported.

In the same period, the whole country recorded approximately 40,000 cases of dengue fever, including eight fatalities.

The outbreak is trending upward in many localities and is expected to have complex development this year, the newspaper reported.

The current dengue fever outbreak now varies by region, not following any specific cycle, and the reason for this was due to the fluctuating weather conditions in the northern region, according to head of the Department of Insects Nguyen Van Dung.

He said preventing and controlling dengue fever is a complex task that relied not only on the healthcare workforce and local authorities but also on the awareness of the public.

ALSO READ: Vietnam tells hospitals to prep as dengue fever cases surge

He noted that the most effective prevention method was avoiding mosquito bites and maintaining a clean environment to prevent mosquito breeding, including removing stagnant water.