The continued rise in dengue cases has put the healthcare sector in Da Nang on alert. Hence, the  healthcare sector is calling on each family and all people across the city to join hands with authorities at their local areas and relevant agencies to counter the outbreak of dengue. Local residents are being urged to stay vigilant against dengue following a significant rise in severe dengue cases and the city’s first death from dengue. They are asked to take precautionary measures to protect themselves and their families from the disease.

A 19-year-old male dengue patient, a resident of Hoa Khe Ward, Thanh Khe District died on November 3 as he had been admitted to the Hoan My Hospital in a critical condition and he had entered the critical phase 5 days after illness onset. He was infected with dengue and got high fever on October 30 but he self-medicated to bring down his fever and treat his illness instead of seeking medical advice and care from a healthcare facility. His fever was resolved 3 days after illness onset but his symptoms worsened to severe dengue, including abdominal pain, persistent vomiting. He was admitted to the Hoan My Hospital at 5:00 am on November 3 and died at 11:40 am on the same day. The main causes of his death were severe dengue and its complications.

A dengue patient is being treated at the Da Nang General Hospital. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Spike in dengue cases attributed to public ignorance about dengue prevention and control measures

During her inspection visits to wards of Thanh Khe District, the worst-hit district in Da Nang on Tuesday morning, Municipal People's Committee Vice Chairwoman Ngo Thi Kim Yen pointed out the ineffective implementation of the city’s control and management programs of dengue mosquito vector due to the lack of effective co-operation between relevant units and local residents.

The main barriers to effective implementation of the city’s dengue control measures are lack of cooperation by local residents in eliminating mosquito breeding sites and spaying chemicals to kill mosquito larvae and adults in their homes.

Thanh Khe District People's Committee Vice Chairman Nguyen Huu Cong said that rainfall, being another significant climatic factor, is also decisive for construction and perseverance of mosquito breeding sites that are fueling dengue cases in the district. In addition, the threat of a possible outbreak of dengue now exists in the district due to the delay in the detection of dengue hotspots.

Thanh Khe District has recorded a total of 1,424 dengue cases so far this year, 15.3  higher than the same period in 2021.

The District authorities have launched campaigns to kill mosquito larvae and adults in families, offices, schools and public places. In addition, heed has been paid to ensure that the dengue hotspot is detected early and that the response is rapid and appropriate.

However, public ignorance about destroying the possible mosquito breeding sites around their homes and lack of cooperation by local residents to allow healthcare workers to spay chemicals to kill mosquitoes at their homes are mainly attributed to increasing incidence of dengue fever in the district.

Da Nang People’s Committee Vice Chairwoman Ngo Thi Kim Yen (first, left) inspecting the dengue prevention and control work in Thanh Khe District. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Rapid response and epidemic preparedness needed to control dengue outbreak

Doctor Truong Van Trinh, the Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Health, stated that dengue epidemic has broken out in the city, thereby urging authorities at local level and relevant agencies to take urgent action to counter dengue virus.

A total of 671 dengue cases were logged in the city over the past week from November 21 – 27.  The districts reporting most cases were Thanh Khe (110), Hoa Vang (115), Lien Chieu (117), Ngu Hanh Son (99), Hai Chau (81), Cam Le (83), and Son Tra (66).

In addition, 26 small outbreaks were detected over the past week, mainly located in Ngu Hanh Son (9), Hoa Vang (8) and Cam Le (6).

Da Nang’s health officials highlighted the need to increase the public awareness and promote the public health along with larval and adult control campaigns. High priority should be given to spaying chemicals to kill mosquito larvae and adults once a week at families in hotspots or high-risk areas of dengue, twice a week at those in affected areas that have been brought under control, and once a month at those in the remaining areas in the city.

Vice Chairwoman Ngo Thi Kim Yen urged the entire community and all sectors of society to work together to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, particularly those around the home, in an economic and efficient way.

Heed must be paid to imposing penalities on individuals and organizations for failure to cooperate with local level authorities and health sector to prevent dengue or ignorance about dengue prevention and control measures . Importance should be calling on public employees and workers at agencies, units and mass organizations to play their part in controlling mosquito breeding and the spread of diseases by volunteeringly following the city’s prevention and control measures. They are encouraged to stay alert on the dangers of dengue fever, as well as take action to protect themselves against dengue fever at home by destroying the possible mosquito breeding sites such as water tanks, utensils, irrigation ditches and drainages as well as disposable tires and wastes.

Authorities at local level were urged to remain on high alert for dengue with a focus on quickly identifying high-risk areas of dengue in order to enable appropriate measures to be taken to control the dengue disease and reduce dengue infections.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG – Translating by H.L