Thanks to drastic disease control and prevention measures, the prevalence of most infectious diseases in Khanh Hoa Province has decreased compared with the same period last year...
Thanks to drastic disease control and prevention measures, the prevalence of most infectious diseases in Khanh Hoa Province has decreased compared with the same period last year.
Many preventive measures
No cases of emerging and re-emerging A/H5N1, A/H7N9 and MerS Cov were reported. No such dangerous epidemics as group A cholera, meningococcal disease and bubonic plague have occurred since the beginning of the year.
Other infectious diseases have decreased sharply compared to the same period last year. Specifically, diarrhea and amoebiasis have decreased by more than 25.5%; Shigella dysenteriae down by 20.5%; mumps reduced by 78.5%; viral hepatitis down by 26.3%, etc. Especially, some major infectious diseases with high cases of infection in recent years such as dengue have decreased by nearly 64% (more than 2,900 cases), hand foot and mouth disease down by nearly 80% (more than 280 cases), measles reduced by more than 99% (3 cases). No cases of diphtheria have been reported in Khanh Hoa so far, according to Khanh Hoa Center for Disease Control.
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According to Dr. Huynh Van Dong, Director of Khanh Hoa Center for Disease Control, the results are thanks to the concern and guidance of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Steering Committee for Disease Control & Prevention; close coordination between departments, agencies and organizations; and prompt allocation of anti-epidemic funding. The health sector at all levels has proactively developed plans for disease prevention and control from the beginning of the year, focusing on maintaining inspection, close supervision, early detection of suspected cases; and confirmed cases, especially of dengue and hand foot and mouth disease cases at treatment facilities and in the community, thus promptly zoning and isolation of virus epicenters to thoroughly handle outbreaks; spraying insecticide in high-risk areas, maintaining open immunization programs for children to increase disease prevention in the community.
Accordingly, since the beginning of the year, Khanh Hoa has detected 138 epicenters of dengue and 8 of hand foot and mouth disease; provided disease control and prevention propaganda for nearly 150,000 families and distributed 35,400 leaflets. 24 medical stations have developed guppy for killing larvae in water containers. The province has applied pesticide spray in 45 villages and quarters in 21 communes and wards; launched antilarval operations at over 7,340 homes. Besides, the provincial Center for Disease Control has provided more than 900kg of Cloramin B, over 2,000 soaps, 23,000 sets of protective clothing, etc.
Not underestimating risks
In spite of a drop in cases of infectious diseases, the risk of infection with dengue and hand foot and mouth disease are likely to increase if localities underestimate risks and fail to take drastic measures on disease control and prevention from now to the end of the year.
The highest incidence of dengue cases often occur in hot and wet weather which leads to a spike in the number of mosquitoes. Uncovered containers of water are mosquito breeding grounds. Campaigns against mosquito-borne diseases have run, ensuring homes and gardens aren't providing a habitat for mosquitoes to effectively monitor and control the spread of mosquitoes, according to Dr. Huynh Van Dong.
At a recent conference on the prevention and control of infectious diseases, Dr. Nguyen Dinh Thoan, Vice-Director of the Department of Health requested medical units to continue maintaining the achievements from now to the end of the year; strengthening preventive measures, and promoting propaganda in suitable forms to raise public awareness and participation in the fight against the epidemics. Depending on specific situations, localities are required to launch antilarval operations, spraying chemicals to kill mosquitoes; monitor and supervise cases, especially in places with many cases to minimize the infection. Joint effort of the community is needed to avoid overlapping epidemics and ensure effective combat against diseases, especially during the unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak.
Cat Dan
Translated by N.T
