Ho Chi Minh City warns of possible rise in respiratory infections after Tet

Le Hong Nga, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC), told a socio-economic press briefing on Thursday that the city’s infectious disease situation remained stable before and during the Lunar New Year.

From February 16 to February 22, the city recorded 452 dengue cases, down 57.7 percent from the average of the previous four weeks, and 281 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease, down 56 percent from the four-week average, Nga said.

No Group A infectious diseases such as H5N1 avian influenza or Nipah virus were recorded during the period.

Nga said weekly dengue and hand, foot and mouth disease cases were expected to remain at low levels after the holiday.

However, based on annual patterns, hand, foot and mouth disease could increase in March, while dengue cases may rise earlier than in previous years.

She said this time of year typically also sees an increase in respiratory infections, including chickenpox, mumps, rubella, seasonal influenza and meningococcal disease.

The city’s Department of Health has instructed medical facilities to comply with infectious disease reporting requirements, strengthen pathogen surveillance and improve outbreak forecasting.

Local health stations have been directed to coordinate with schools to monitor diseases and implement preventive measures, including hygiene practices and routine and catch-up vaccinations for kindergarten and elementary school students.

Communes and wards have been told to step up surveillance and eliminate dengue risk sites, including organizing mosquito larvae eradication campaigns.

The health department has also issued a plan to ensure medical services and disease prevention measures during elections for deputies to the National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels, Nga said.

On Thursday, the HCDC and the city’s Sub-Department of Animal Health signed a coordination plan to prevent dangerous zoonotic diseases, including strengthening information sharing, surveillance and outbreak response, she added.