A campaign to prevent and control dengue fever and hand, foot and mouth disease is launched on October 31 (Photo: HCDC).
Surveillance data through week 43 show dengue cases in HCM City are rising again, with the risk of further increases during the rainy season remaining high.
The city has also reported more than 44,000 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease, up over 65 per cent from the same period last year. The outbreak has caused five deaths and more than 1,600 clusters.
The circulation of the EV71 virus strain, which can cause severe complications, and rising infections at preschools and childcare groups have added urgency to disease prevention efforts.
A Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health delegation surveys dengue risk sites (Photo: HCDC)
In response to the worsening situation, health authorities and local administrations have launched an intensive campaign to contain the outbreaks and prevent further spread.
Huynh Minh Chin, deputy director of the HCM City Department of Health, said the figures served as a clear warning, requiring the entire political system, the health sector and residents to remain vigilant and avoid complacency or delays in disease prevention.
On October 31, the department and the People's Committee of Di An Ward launched the campaign to intensify efforts against dengue and hand, foot and mouth disease.
Following the launch, a delegation from the department, the HCM City Centre for Disease Control (HCDC) and local authorities inspected areas at risk of outbreaks in Thang Loi 2 residential quarter.
The delegation also examined environmental sanitation, disinfection measures, handwashing facilities and health monitoring procedures for children at Thong Nhat Kindergarten.
