Da Nang is facing a growing threat of tropical disease outbreaks as increasing number of infection hotspots of dengue fever has been detected across the city, the municipal Centre for Disease Prevention and Control warned. In particular, the city now sees growing cases of dengue infection.

Spraying an anti-mosquito chemical at a newly-detected hotspot in Lien Chieu District’s Hoa Khanh Nam Ward

Over the past 2 weeks, the city experienced wet weather and humid conditions which ideally suited to mosquito breeding.

According to the municipal Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, between 28 October and 11 November, a total of over 400 cases of the disease were recorded in the city, which has brought the total number of cases since the start of this year to 3,360. Of this, 147 cases have been reported in Son Tra District’s Tho Quang Ward.

During that period, a total of 60 new hotspots of the mosquito-borne viral disease were identified, bringing the figure since the start of this year to 353.

In particular, 12 hotspots were discovered in Son Tra District, 11 in Lien Chieu District and 10 in Cam Le District. In addition, some new ones were reported in Hai Chau District’s Thuan Phuoc Ward, Thanh Khe District’s Thanh Khe Dong and Xuan Ha wards, Lien Chieu District’s Hoa Hiep Nam and Hoa Khanh Bac wards, and Cam Le District’s Khue Trung and Hoa An wards.

Despite being one of the city’s best localities in carrying out dengue fever prevention and control work, Hoa Vang District still saw a significant rise in the number of infection cases. Especially, between 5 and 11 November, the number of new cases of the desease in this rural district hit the highest level ever recorded in the city with 39.

Water jars, fishing tools, and broken utensils outside houses of local residents provide ideal places for mosquito breeding.

Mr Dang Quang Anh from the municipal Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, highlighted the importance of the timely detection of infection hotspots and effective early intervention works to prevent the spread of the disease.

The Director of the municipal Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Dr Ton That Thanh, cautioned about the high potential of dengue fever outbreaks in the city due to the current wet and humid conditions providing the breeding sites for mosquitoes. 

Dr Thanh urged the district authorities across the city to encourage their residents to clear up any grassy or bushy areas near their homes, and to remove sources of standing water which can become mosquito breeding grounds.

He also asked district-level preventive medicine centres to spray anti-mosquito chemicals at newly-detected hotspots in a bid to prevent the spread of the disease within local population.