The number of dengue fever cases in Binh Thuan is the highest in the Central region. The peak of the epidemic in the province is still ahead and very close.
High number of cases in the area
Since the beginning of the year, Binh Thuan has recorded 2,153 cases of dengue fever (DF), an increase of 28.2% over the same period in 2022 (1,679 cases), with no deaths; of which, 65 cases of severe dengue fever. The 3 districts with a high number of cases account for 59.3% of the total number of cases in the province, including Ham Thuan Bac with 533 cases, Ham Thuan Nam with 416 cases, Duc Linh with 328 cases. In particular, La Gi, Ham Tan, and Tanh Linh have a decrease in the number of cases. The rate of cases per 100,000 people in the province is 159.1, exceeding the target for 2023 by 23.3%. During the same period, Binh Thuan Provincial General Hospital received and treated 839 patients with dengue fever, including 199 adults and 640 children. Of which, 67 patients were severe and 13 cases were transferred to higher levels.
According to the Provincial Center for Disease Control, the number of dengue fever cases in the first 6 months of 2023 tends to be higher than the same period last year, due to the increased impact of dengue fever from the last months of 2022 (the year of the epidemic cycle). In 2023, there are still many difficulties in terms of funding and chemicals, but medical units across the province have made efforts to find solutions and mobilize support resources to maintain monitoring and control activities to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases from spreading and prolonging. As a result, in the first 6 months of 2023, the dengue fever situation has gradually been controlled, with the number of cases in May - June 2023 at a level equivalent to the 5-year average of the period 2017-2021.
The Ministry of Health's monitoring team said that if in 2022, the number of deaths due to dengue fever in Binh Thuan was the highest in the Central region, then in the first 6 months of 2023, the number of dengue fever cases in the province will also be the highest in the region. Such a high number of cases is not yet the peak of the epidemic, but is considered to be at the "baseline" level. The peak of the epidemic in the province is still ahead and very close. That is, it is predicted that the number of cases will increase if preventive measures are not taken immediately.
Reason
After field monitoring, the working group of the Ministry of Health assessed that the density index of larvae, larva, and mosquitoes in water containers in people's homes was high, with a BI (Breteau index) of 100 (the index of water containers containing Aedes mosquito larvae). People are busy with their daily lives and have not paid attention to killing larvae/larva, mosquitoes to prevent dengue fever. In addition, the exchange of tourists from Ho Chi Minh City to Binh Thuan, the increased risk of disease outbreaks, can easily affect the local economy. On the other hand, the El Nino phenomenon and climate change also promote mosquito reproduction and longevity. In addition, the weather is currently entering the rainy season, creating favorable conditions for disease-carrying mosquitoes to thrive. What is mentioned is that the number of dengue fever cases transmitted by mosquitoes has increased.
Representatives of the Department of Testing of the Center for Disease Control and the Department of Infectious Diseases of Binh Thuan General Hospital shared: "The role of early diagnosis of dengue fever is very important. If dengue fever cases are not diagnosed early, this will lead to a delay in the prevention and containment of the outbreak, contributing to an increase and prolongation of the number of cases. Doctors treat mainly based on clinical symptoms of dengue fever, without a rapid test to find Dengue NS1 antigen for early diagnosis. The reason is due to difficulties in bidding for medical supplies and biochemicals at the hospital".
Fundamental solution
To reduce the number of dengue fever cases, the Ministry of Health's monitoring team requested the Department of Health to pay attention to implementing funding for early chemical spraying; organizing monitoring of vector indicators in the community; regularly inspecting and training to improve the capacity of medical staff at district and commune levels; preparing medical supplies, drugs and human resources to respond promptly when the disease breaks out. Strengthening communication on dengue fever prevention.
Call on people to actively respond to disease prevention measures for individuals and communities. By actively and regularly participating in cleaning up waste items containing stagnant water, where larvae and mosquitoes develop, covering tightly and releasing fish into water containers; sleeping under mosquito nets, applying mosquito repellent cream to avoid mosquito bites...
Once the slogan "No Aedes mosquitoes, no larvae, no dengue fever" is implemented synchronously with regular actions, the story of preventing dengue fever is not difficult.
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