Implementing the plan of examining and surveying the control of dengue fever, cholera and several summery diseases in severely-hit areas, from 12 to 14 of July 2010, the mission team carried out the inspection of epidemic prevention in 3 provinces of Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue and Da Nang.
Participated in the surveillance mission were Dr. Vu Sinh Nam, Vice-Director of Department of Preventive Medicine, Head of the mission; Dr. Phuong Van Nhu, Chief of the Vietnam Food Administration Secretariat, Dr. Vien Quang Mai, Deputy-Director of the Pasteur Institute Nha Trang; Dr. Nguyen Van Chuong, Vice-director of the IMPE-Quy Nhon and institutes' specialists.
The aim of the surveillance mission is to evaluate the epidemic control situation in the first half of 2010; find out factors causing epidemics; especially, strengthen dengue fever control activities effectively, inspect real situation at disease niduses frequently to promptly prevent the outbreaks from occuring.
During the surveillance, the mission team worked with Provincial Health Services, the provincial centres for preventive medicine, communal health stations in the provinces of Da Nang, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue.
In Da Nang city
In the first 6 months of 2010, dengue fever situation increased complicatedly with 1,024 morbidity cases, increasing 12 times against the same period of last year, especially in the districts of Ngu Hanh Son and Son Tra. The provincial centre for preventive medicine strengthened control measures, detection and diagnosis of morbidity cases to treat promptly. Besides, the centres also carried out residual spraying and treatment of small-scale foci. However, there were still many difficulties such as lack of budget in implementing the plan and supporting for the medical staff.
According to Dr. Vu Sinh Nam, head of the mission, Da Nang was noticeable with dengue fever epidemic, so the provincial health service strengthened to monitor disease niduses, exterminate mosquito larvae at households. Besides, health communication and education need to be enhanced in severely-hit communes. The provicial health service of Da Nang should plan the supplementary budget for dengue fever control activities of the last 6 months of 2010.
In Quang Tri province
In the first half of 2010, dengue fever appeared in 7/9 districts with 29 morbidity cases, mainly in Dong Ha district, and no death. In Huong Hoa district, in comparision with the same period of last year, malaria morbidity had 367 cases, 46.5% lower, malaria parasites decreased 38.73% and no death.The provincial centres for preventive medicine deployed and supervised dengue fever control activities timely.
In Thua Thien Hue province
The surveillance mission worked with the provincial general hospital of Thua Thien-Hue and inspected some severely-hit areas. In the process of inspecting and monitoring, the mission found out causes of increasing dengue fever in first 6 months of 2010 to have intergrated measures promptly. Annually, the Provincial Health Service supports and directs the implementation of dengue fever control activities at localities to help severely-hit provinces prevent outbreaks effectively and timely. However, many shortcomings still exist such as weak health communication and education, slow diagnosis, ineffective treatment of small foci, etc.
As monitoring and inspecting some households, the mission team found mosquito larvae existing in cisterns and remarked that dengue fever situation of Thua Thien-Hue happened complicatedly. Although there was no death, the province should carry out dengue fever control measures more actively and effectively. It is necessary to strengthen health communication and education so as to help the people understand and take part in control activities.