Dengue fever cases in Vietnam’s Can Tho expected to surge in September

According to the infectious disease surveillance system, this Mekong Delta city recorded 1,843 dengue cases in July and August, with many of them severe.

At Can Tho Children’s Hospital, the largest pediatric facility in the Mekong Delta, the number of critical cases requiring intensive care has increased significantly.

Doctors said some patients arrived late, complicating treatment.

From early 2025 until now, the hospital has admitted 690 outpatient dengue cases, up 32 percent year on year, and 865 inpatients, up 67 percent.

Severe dengue accounted for 87 cases, a 74-percent increase.

While no deaths have been reported, experts caution the risk of rising cases in the coming weeks.

The city’s health authority has launched extensive mosquito control campaigns to prevent outbreaks, including spraying chemicals, eliminating breeding sites, and monitoring patients closely to detect clusters early.

The Can Tho Center for Disease Control (CDC) has already conducted three proactive campaigns and prepared medical supplies and equipment for potential large-scale outbreaks.

Le Phuc Hien, head of infectious diseases and international quarantine at Can Tho CDC, said dengue is endemic year-round but typically spikes at the start of the rainy season when stagnant water creates ideal mosquito breeding grounds.

Densely populated neighborhoods are at higher risk of outbreaks.

Doctors stress the importance of early hospital visits.

“Families should not rush to give fever-reducing medications when children have a high temperature. Cooling measures like wiping with a wet cloth are safer, as sudden drops in fever can mask symptoms,” said Nguyen Huynh Nhat Truong, head of the dengue department at Can Tho Children’s Hospital.

Truong added that rapid dengue tests, available from the first day of illness, can help detect the disease early.