The peak time for the disease in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta’s province began in June and the situation continues to worsen.

Deputy head of the department’s Prevention and Treatment Division, Huynh Tan Kiet, said the disease had struck 3,550 people by the end of last week. Six people had died so far.

"Only 390 people were infected by dengue fever, including one death, in the same period last year," said Kiet. The doctor said heavy rain, which created favourable conditions for mosquitoes, was the main reason for the severe outbreak. "This year also marks the return of the dengue-fever outbreak period, which happens every four years," he said.

Local underestimation of disease prevention is also blamed for the spread of the disease. Although provincial healthcare officials predicted the return of the disease and adopted preventive measures, the situation seems to be out of control, said Kiet.

The department had tried to kill mosquitoes, the disease vectors, by chemicals and other methods, asked communities to keep the environment dry and clean, enhance the capacity of healthcare centres and organised a disease surveillance system from grassroots to provincial level. However, all hospitals from provincial to district levels are now overloaded with dengue fever patients, said Kiet.

He said the disease was forecast to die down in October or November this year.

This article first appeared on vietnamnews.vnanet.vn/

Aug 5, 2008

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