'HCMC at high risk of overlapping epidemics'

The Center for Disease Control (HCDC) said the number of hand, foot and mouth disease cases is increasing rapidly, combined with the dengue fever season starting, causing Ho Chi Minh City to face the risk of overlapping epidemics.

On the evening of June 5, a representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health announced the results of virus sequencing of 6 samples of hand, foot and mouth disease, showing that all were infected with the EV71 strain of genotype B5, in the highly virulent group, causing severe illness and rapid infection. Authorities assessed that the appearance of this virus strain made the "situation truly worrying". According to statistics, the number of cases in early June was more than twice as high as the previous two weeks, including a 5-year-old boy who died from hand, foot and mouth disease.

Children’s hospitals in the city are treating 20-25 inpatient cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (each hospital) per day, including many serious patients. In previous months, there were only an average of 5-6 children hospitalized or no cases at all.

Along with hand, foot and mouth disease, Ho Chi Minh City is preparing for the peak season of dengue fever , which is expected to last for about 2-3 weeks and last until the end of October. HCDC's monitoring of epidemic prevention activities in wards and communes shows that there are 20 risk points (with mosquito larvae) out of a total of 39 points, accounting for over 50%.

"This rate will certainly be higher when the city enters the rainy season, if each locality and each household does not resolutely kill mosquitoes and larvae to control the epidemic," said a representative of HCDC, adding that the number of dengue fever cases in hospitals has begun to increase slightly, with the number of severe cases accounting for about 10%.

HCDC believes that Ho Chi Minh City is facing a very high risk of overlapping epidemics (hand, foot and mouth disease - dengue fever). The consequence of this is that it can easily lead to overloading of the health system, which can cause errors, hospital infections and cross-infection between pediatric patients.

On the afternoon of June 6, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee issued an urgent document requesting units to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease, emphasizing high-risk areas such as childcare centers, kindergartens, primary schools, residential areas, and boarding houses with many children. People are advised to clean their living environment, monitor symptoms of the disease and go to the hospital promptly, avoiding subjectivity. The Department of Health also said that it has developed scenarios for admission and treatment if the number of cases increases; ensuring medicine and human resources.

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