According to information from the Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health, from the beginning of 2024 to now, the whole country has had 10,196 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease, an increase of 2.3 times compared to the same period in 2023.
Of which, the southern provinces have more than 7,500 cases, accounting for 74.1% of the total number of hand, foot and mouth disease cases nationwide, the northern region has more than 1,300 cases, followed by the central region with about 1,000 cases; the Central Highlands region has recorded the least cases so far with 200 cases. The number of hand, foot and mouth disease cases recorded mainly in preschools, with over 90% of children under 5 years old having the disease.
There is still no vaccine to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease, while the disease is transmitted mainly through the digestive tract from saliva, blisters and feces of infected children.
Vaccination is the best way to prevent diseases in children. Photo: Phong Lan
Along with hand, foot and mouth disease, the whole country has recorded 118 cases of whooping cough, an increase of 6.8 times compared to the same period in 2023. In Hanoi alone, out of 48 cases, mainly under 3 months old (38/48 cases, accounting for 79%), 47/48 cases have not been vaccinated/not yet scheduled for vaccination with pertussis components, of which 27 cases are under 2 months old, not yet scheduled for vaccination; only 1/48 cases have been vaccinated with 2 doses of whooping cough vaccine.
Regarding dengue fever, since the beginning of the year, the whole country has recorded 14,542 cases, down about 49% compared to the same period in 2023, of which the South has more than 8,100 cases (accounting for 56.1%); the Central region has more than 4,700 cases (accounting for 32.9%); the Northern provinces have more than 800 cases (accounting for 6%); the Central Highlands provinces have more than 700 cases (accounting for 5%).
Regarding measles, from the beginning of 2024 to now, 130 measles cases have been recorded, an increase of 1.4 times compared to the same period in 2023. Cases recorded during the year tend to be high from January to April.
According to Mr. Hoang Minh Duc, Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health), the analysis of 12 measles cases showed that 7/12 cases (accounting for 58.4%) had received 2 doses of measles vaccine but still contracted the disease. These cases all had mild symptoms and were discharged from the hospital. In addition, 3/12 cases had unknown conditions, with only 1 case not yet reaching the age for vaccination and 1 case not yet vaccinated.
To prevent and control diseases with preventive vaccines, it is necessary to increase the implementation of vaccination under the Expanded Immunization Program, ensuring safety and effectiveness. Special attention should be paid to diseases with vaccines but still have annual incidence rates such as measles, whooping cough, and diphtheria.
Along with that, localities need to identify small outbreaks or areas with many scattered cases, based on which they can assess the vaccination rate through vaccination reporting software and investigate vaccination epidemiology to focus on promoting catch-up vaccination, catch-up vaccination, and full vaccination.
According to People's Army Newspaper
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