By mid-November, Lien Chieu was the worst-hit district in Da Nang with the highest number of 1,900 dengue cases. The wards reporting most cases were Hoa Khanh Bac, Hoa Khanh Nam and Hoa Minh. Therefore, authorities in Lien Chieu District are taking vigorous action to tackle the desease  to curb the spread of dengue fever.

Hoa Khanh Bac Ward Authority mobilizes all its forces for cleaning up the environment, and killing larvae to prevent and control dengue fever. Photo: H.L

Signifcant increase in number of dengue cases

The Lien Chieu District Medical Centre daily receives dozens of suspected cases for examination and treatment. The center has to put extra beds in its corridors in order to cope with increased inpatients.

Since July, Lien Chieu District has experienced a continuous increase in dengue fever cases despite the use of a series of preventive measures.

Doctor Nguyen Van Khanh, the Head of the Ward of Disease Control and HIV/AIDS under the Lien Chieu District Medical Centre, has warned local residents of complex situation of dengue as the district reported an increase of nearly 1,700 cases over the same period in 2021. The increase in dengue cases in the district is mainly attributed to ignoring dengue prevention and control measures among local residents, especially those living in living in cramped rental rooms with no natural light while they ignore their health, especially dengue fever risk.

Hoa Khanh Bac Ward is facing the risk of losing control of dengue fever as nearly 700 cases have been logged in the ward so far this year. Given the situation, the ward authority has already urged the entire community and all sectors of society to work together to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, particularly those around the home. The authority are calling local residents to actively get involved in protecting 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. All families are urging to get rid of all unused objects where water can accumulate, such as old tires, cans, bottles and vases. Heed should be paid to clearing brush around the home, cleaning up stagnant ponds while domestic water tanks must be hermetically sealed to avoid them becoming hatcheries.

Enhancing dengue prevention measures

Mrs Tran Thanh Thuy, the Acting Director of the Da Nang Department of Health asked Lien Chieu District to urgently take preventive and vector control interventions in order to reduce dengue transmission, thereby decreasing the incidence of the infection and preventing outbreaks of the disease.

She stressed the need for surveillance activities that include vector surveillance and monitoring of environmental and social risk factors for dengue outbreaks to ensure that increased dengue transmission is detected early and that the response is rapid and appropriate.

Importance should be paid to spraying chemicals to kill adult mosquitoes in order to combat dengue infections in line with the direction from the Ministry of Health. Special attention must be paid to calling for active involvement of local residents in larval and adult control campaigns as the most effective way to combat it is to eliminate breeding sites in order to prevent the mosquito from reproducing because without mosquitoes there would be no transmission of dengue.

The Lien Chieu District Medical Centre is directed to ensure the supply of drugs, chemicals, personal protective equipment, emergency and treatment facilities, and beds to provide best care for dengue patients. Focus should be paid to improvinghe capacity of diagnosis and treatment of dengue in a bid to reduce the risk for severe dengue complications and mortality.

Reporting by HUYNH LE – Translating by H.L