Vietnam health officials have reported a surge in dengue fever in southern Vietnam so far in 2015 where an increase of 27 percent in cases have been seen as compared the the same period in 2014.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health showed that the country has recorded more than 5,200 infections so far this year, including 3,640 infections in February, mostly in the south.
Dr. Tran Dac Phu, Director of MOH’ s Preventive Medicine Agency said dengue fever cases have been reported in 38 out of 63 cities and provinces nationwide in the first two months.
Three dengue-related fatalities, from Dong Nai and Long An near Ho Chi Minh City, have been recorded in the outbreak.
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Vietnam reports an average 100,000 dengue fever cases including 100 fatal cases each year.
With more than one-third of the world’s population living in areas at risk for infection, dengue virus is a leading cause of illness and death in the tropics and subtropics, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As many as 400 million people are infected yearly. Dengue is caused by any one of four related viruses transmitted by mosquitoes. There are not yet any vaccines to prevent infection with dengue virus and the most effective protective measures are those that avoid mosquito bites. When infected, early recognition and prompt supportive treatment can substantially lower the risk of medical complications and death.