Addressing a working session with the Ministry of Health in Hanoi, Dam noted that an epidemic prevention plan is needed as many contagious diseases such as measles, hand-foot-mouth (HFM), chickenpox, and dengue fever emerge during summer.

While measles is showing signs of waning, hand-foot-and mouth and dengue fever are breaking out in almost all provinces and cities.

The diseases are spreading due to people’s negligence of personal hygiene and environmental sanitation. Doctors warn Vietnam will face a high risk of widespread epidemics unless effective preventive measures are in place.

Deputy PM Dam asked the Ministry of Health to work harder to keep measles under control, especially the status of cross-infection at centrally-run hospitals, in order to minimise the number of deaths.

To prevent the disease spreading across the community, he asked the health sector to timely quarantine and deal with outbreaks and vaccinate children under 10 against infectious diseases. The health sector was also required to update media agencies on the development of the diseases and preventive measures.