Hanoi has launched a campaign to respond to the 12th ASEAN Dengue Prevention Day in 2022.

Speaking at the event held in Thanh Tri District on June 15, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Chu Xuan Dung said that dengue fever is one of the fastest spreading mosquito-borne diseases worldwide. 

Parade activities in response to ASEAN Dengue Prevention Day at the launch ceremony. Photo: Ha Linh

“Dengue fever is an endemic disease and has always been a threat to public health. From the beginning of 2022 until now, Hanoi has recorded 93 cases of dengue fever. Although the epidemic has been put under control, the number of cases is predicted to increase in the near future,” Dung said.

Dung said hot, humid summer weather and heavy rains are favorable conditions for mosquitoes that transmit dengue fever to develop, leading to a dangue outbreak and potentially a large-scale epidemic if timely measures are not taken to prevent and control it.

According to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), there are about 96 million dengue infections every year, with 500,000 severe cases requiring hospitalization and about 12,500 deaths.

Dung required leaders of the city's districts to supervise the prevention and control of dengue fever to minimize the number of infections right at workplaces.

Functional forces instruct people to kill larvae in the household's outdoor pond with standing water. Photo: Ha Linh

In addition, districts’ authorities need to assign an organization or individual the responsibility for monitoring, checking, and handling high-risk spots; establish teams to inspect and strictly handle individuals, organizations, and the owners of high-risk spots who deliberately fail to comply with dengue fever prevention guidelines.

The Department of Health should ask its subordinate units to carry out inspection, supervision, rapid detection and timely handling of outbreaks and cases. Drugs, supplies, equipment, and infusions to treat patients with dengue fever must be ensured at medical facilities.

Vice Chairman Dung expressed his hope that through the launching ceremony, people and the municipal authorities will join hands together, so as not to let the epidemic harm people's health and lives, starting with simple and easy actions, such as cleaning and sanitizing the living and working spaces and preventing water containers from becoming breeding places for mosquito larvae.

After the launch ceremony, the functional forces educated local residents on epidemic prevention and control measures such as spraying insecticides and releasing fish to kill larvae in some risk areas.

Spraying chemicals to kill mosquitoes on a large scale after the launching ceremony. Photo: Ha Linh