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According to the Center for Disease Control of Ho Chi Minh City (HCDC), the number of cases and hospitalizations due to hand, foot and mouth disease and dengue fever is increasing rapidly. 

Ho Chi Minh City Image by Quang Nguyen vinh from Pixabay

The HCDC said that from July 3 to 9, 2023 (week 27), the number of cases and hospitalizations due to hand, foot and mouth disease is increasing rapidly in Ho Chi Minh City.

From the beginning of the year to week 27, Ho Chi Minh City recorded the districts with a high number of hand, foot and mouth infections per 100,000 people including Binh Tan district, Binh Chanh district, Tan Phu district, District 6, District 8. 

Particularly in the most recent week (week 27), the whole city recorded 1,614 cases, an increase of nearly 2.5 times compared to the average 4 weeks ago of 716 cases. 

It is known that the number of cases of hand, foot and mouth disease began to increase continuously from May 8, 2023, the number of severe cases also increased.

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According to BSCK1 Tran Ngoc Luu – Department of Infection, Children’s Hospital 2, Ho Chi Minh City, the rate of hospitalizations has increased gradually compared to 1 month ago, in which there are cases with signs of worsening and signs of neurological complications, who must be hospitalized in the recovery room for close monitoring.

The Health sector forecasts that the number of cases and the number of severe cases of hand, foot and mouth disease will continue to increase in the coming weeks, possibly lasting if no drastic preventive measures are taken.

“Currently in the hot season, diseases related to respiratory and digestive infections, in which, the hand, foot and mouth group tends to increase,” said Dr. Ngoc Luu.

Not only is hand, foot and mouth disease increasing rapidly, children’s hospitals also say that the number of children infected with dengue fever is increasing.

According to HCDC, data from the beginning of the year to week 27, Ho Chi Minh City recorded districts with a high number of dengue cases per 100,000 people, including: District 1, Binh Chanh District, District 8, Binh Thanh District, Binh Tan District.

Particularly in week 27, the whole city recorded 237 cases, an increase of 32% compared to the average of 180 cases 4 weeks ago.

BSCKII Nguyen Hong Tam – Director of the Center for Disease Control of Ho Chi Minh City said that currently, the number of new cases of hand, foot and mouth disease and dengue fever are lower than the same period last year and no deaths due to dengue have been recorded. However, it is interesting that the ratio of severe cases to the number of new cases in both epidemics has increased. For example, if there were 100 cases last year, there were only 10 severe cases, and this year, 100 new cases but about 20 severe cases.

According to the Department of Health of Ho Chi Minh City, according to the annual disease progression in Ho Chi Minh City, the peak season of dengue fever has begun to increase and will increase in July, expected to last until the end of October every year.

Meanwhile, through surveillance, the detection rate of larvae at risk points is close to 48% (49/103 points). This is an alarming number. This rate will be higher when Ho Chi Minh City rains more and there are no drastic measures to control dengue risk points.

Faced with this fact, Dr. Truong Huu Khanh – Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Infectious Association said that the most important thing now is to prevent two diseases at the same time. Specifically, hand, foot and mouth disease prevention at home and at school; Dengue fever prevention is to work together to kill mosquitoes, larvae, and clean up waterlogged areas to be effective.

According to the Department of Health, in order to prevent dengue fever, each person and each household actively seek and eliminate the breeding ground of disease-transmitting mosquitoes. When people detect risk points, they can reflect on the online Health application.

To prevent hand, foot and mouth disease, caregivers and children need to regularly wash their hands and clean children’s items, toys, tables, chairs, and floors.