The Ministry of Health has just announced 10 diseases that recorded the highest mortality rates in 2012.
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| The spread of many diseases could be prevented further |
Rabies stays on top of the list with 98 fatal cases despite a 10% decline compared to 2011. The disease was concentrated mostly in the provinces of Son La, Yen Bai, Ha Giang and Dien Bien. Dengue fever spread mostly in the southern region and left 80 dead.
Also on the list are hand-foot-mouth, viral encephalitis, neonatal tetanus, malaria, meningitis, swine streptococcus, diarrhoea and H5N1.
"Many of these diseases could have been prevented from spreading." Binh said.
He also said the situation would continue to be complicated in 2013 and everyone must prepare to prevent and control diseases. Dengue fever and the diarrhoea diseases, which had increased mortality rates by 31% and 20% respectively compared to previous year, will be under supervision.
Diarrhoea disease was also recorded as the most infectious disease with 725,810 cases, followed by hand-foot-mouth disease with 157,654 cases.