This month, 41 cases of dengue fever were recorded in Hanoi between August 6 and 12, as stated by the city’s Department of Health.
According to VietnamNet, Hanoi has recorded 348 cases of dengue fever so far in 2018 and 37,000 cases nationwide. In addition, VTV reported that the number of cases per week in the capital has risen from 15–20 in July to 30–40 in August.
Despite this, Hoang Duc Hanh, deputy manager of the Department of Health, claims there has actually been a sharp decline in the number of dengue fever cases in Hanoi this year.
Dengue fever is caused by one of four dengue viruses which are spread via mosquito bites. Typical symptoms include fever, a rash, headaches, and severe muscle pain.
In Vietnam, the viruses are often carried by Aedes aegypti, the yellow fever mosquito (muỗi vằn in Vietnamese), which lives in damp, polluted environments such as construction sites or makeshift living spaces. It can be identified by white markings on its body and legs.
This year-round disease can be treated using papaya leaf extract. An initiative set up via a partnership between Australia-based World Mosquito Program and the Eliminate Dengue Project in Vietnam has been using a bacterium to try and eradicate dengue from Vietnam.
Hanoi has also seen a total of over 270 cases of measles so far this year, with some concerned an outbreak may be on the cards. The number of cases in 2018 has risen in comparison to the same period in 2017.
[Photo via Wikipedia]
