Ho Chi Minh City sees dengue cases surge 130%

From the beginning of the year to June 8, the city recorded 8,595 cases of dengue fever, up 131.2 percent compared to the same period in 2024.

Between May 1 and June 12 alone, there were 766 hospitalizations, including 291 severe cases, an increase of 77 percent.

No deaths have been reported.

At Children's Hospital 1, doctors have treated 108 severe dengue shock cases so far this year, or a 94.74-percent rise versus 2024.

Dr. Pham Van Quang, head of the hospital’s intensive care and toxicology ward, said the unit began receiving severe dengue shock cases in early April.

He noted that over the past three weeks, the ward has received at least one such case nearly every day.

Currently, doctors are treating three severe dengue patients: two children, aged 10 and 13, from Ho Chi Minh City, and a 12-year-old girl from Tra Vinh Province in the Mekong Delta.

Dr. Quang urged people to seek medical attention if a high fever lasts more than two or three days without improvement.

He emphasized that early diagnosis through blood tests can help detect the disease early and improve treatment outcomes. 

In contrast, delayed diagnosis may lead to complications.

At the City Children's Hospital, Dr. Nguyen Minh Tien, the hospital’s deputy director, warned that dengue cases may rise further now that the southern region has entered the rainy season.

He also noted that dengue in infants often presents atypically, making it easily mistaken for respiratory illnesses, digestive disorders, or hand, foot, and mouth disease.