18 Nov 2019 | 01:43 PM UTC
Vietnam: Dengue fever outbreak reported in central provinces November 18
Dengue fever outbreak reported across central provinces November 18; take precautions against mosquitoes
Event
At least 62,000 cases of dengue fever have been reported in central Vietnam as of Sunday, November 17. Most of the cases have been reported in Binh Dinh province, where hospitals are reportedly overwhelmed with the number of cases and patients demanding care.
Further spread of the disease is possible in the coming weeks
Context
Symptoms of dengue fever include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea, and rashes. Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is a potentially deadly complication that is characterized by high fever, the enlargement of the liver, and hemorrhaging.
Advice
Individuals in Vietnam are advised to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites - e.g. by wearing covering clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping under mosquito netting or in an air-conditioned room - and to eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds (e.g. small pockets of fresh water, such as rainwater that has collected in cans, bottles, tires, flower pots, clogged gutters, etc.).
