Prevent the spread of infectious diseases

Some infectious diseases such as hand, foot and mouth disease, dengue fever are on the rise in some localities throughout the country, especially in Dien Bien province, where more than 10 people have been infected with anthrax.

In order to prevent infectious diseases in time, the Ministry of Health proposed the health sector to synchronously implement timely and effective epidemic prevention measures.

According to the Ministry of Health's report, from the beginning of the year to now, the whole country has recorded more than 85,000 new Covid-19 cases, an average of about 17,000 cases per month (a decrease of 8.5 times compared to 2021, a decrease of 8.5 times compared to 2021). 48 times higher than in 2022), of which there were 20 deaths (death/incidence rate, reduced to 0.02%).

The whole country also recorded 32,925 cases of dengue fever, including 5 deaths in Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Binh Phuoc, and Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh.

Hand, foot and mouth disease recorded nearly 8,900 cases; Compared to the average of the last 5 years, the number of cases has not shown signs of sudden increase but tends to increase in recent weeks and there have been 3 deaths in May 2023.

Hand, foot and mouth disease mainly occurs in boys (accounting for 60%); The age of disease is mainly in children under 10 years old (accounting for 98.5%), of which it is common in the age group from 1 to 5 years old, the age of children going to kindergartens and kindergartens (accounting for 84%) and under 1 year old (accounting for 5 years). 18%)...

Notably, in May 2023, in Tua Chua district (Dien Bien province) recorded 3 outbreaks of skin anthrax, with 13 cases in Muong Bang and Xa Nhe communes.

Through investigation and testing, anthrax bacteria were detected in samples of dead buffalo and sick cows and soil samples collected from households slaughtering sick buffalo and cows and households with suspected anthrax in the area. outbreak area.

These cases were all related to participating in slaughtering and using meat from sick buffaloes and cows that died of anthrax. Currently, all cases are being monitored and treated at medical facilities and there are no deaths.

In addition, 119 people related to the outbreak (who participated in slaughtering, eating dead buffalo and sick cows) were listed, monitored for health and are currently in stable health. Epidemiological history shows that these new cases were all recorded in communes with previous outbreaks of anthrax.

According to Deputy Director of the Center for Disease Control of Ho Chi Minh City. Hanoi, Khong Minh Tuan, hand, foot and mouth disease is caused by viruses belonging to the intestinal group, including Coxsackie, Echo and other intestinal viruses, in which the most common is enteric virus type 71. EV71) and Coxsackie A16 can cause serious and fatal complications.

The disease is common in children with characteristic signs of the disease are fever, sore throat, lesions of the oral mucosa and skin, mainly in the form of blisters, often found on the palms, soles, knees, buttocks. Most cases are mild.

However, in some cases, the disease can be severe and cause dangerous complications such as encephalitis - meningoencephalitis, myocarditis, acute pulmonary edema leading to death, so it should be detected early and treated promptly. .

Commenting on the situation of infectious diseases in our country in the coming time, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong said that for Covid-19, the number of cases and deaths has decreased sharply compared to 2021 and 2022. , the causative agent is the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been identified, in fact at this time the epidemic is still under control in our country. meeting the criteria of group B infectious diseases as prescribed at Point b, Clause 1, Article 3 of the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases.

Hand, foot and mouth disease currently has no preventive vaccine, no specific treatment drug; The disease is endemic and occurs in most of 63 provinces and cities, usually high in September - November every year, especially at the beginning of the new school year. The disease is spread by the gastrointestinal tract and by direct contact, especially with healthy people carrying high levels of infection, so the spread of the disease is very complicated.

Anthrax, still a circulating disease in livestock and humans in some northern mountainous provinces such as Dien Bien, Son La, Lai Chau, Cao Bang, Thai Nguyen, Ha Giang... are areas with hilly terrain. dangerous mountains, limiting surveillance and epidemic prevention activities.

Pathogens persist for a long time in the environment such as soil and water, leading to the risk of continuing to spread to livestock and thereby increasing the risk of transmission to humans.

In the period 2016 - 2022, the national average recorded 7 cases/year and no deaths. For other stable infectious diseases, no concentrated outbreaks were recorded; No cases of dangerous infectious diseases have been recorded...

In order to proactively and promptly prevent infectious diseases, especially Covid-19, hand, foot and mouth disease, dengue fever, coal... The Ministry of Health proposed the People's Committees of provinces and cities to arrange funding and maintenance. ensure resources and mobilize the participation of departments, sectors, mass organizations, socio-political organizations in the prevention of infectious diseases.

Organizing monitoring activities, proactively monitoring and supervising at border gates, at communities and in medical facilities, early detection, quick and timely response and thorough handling of outbreaks Infectious Diseases.

The Health sector effectively implements the vaccination plan in 2023; well implement the expanded vaccination program, regularly review subjects and organize vaccination and supplementary injections to ensure vaccine coverage; promote vaccination against Covid-19, especially for high-risk groups and children.

Medical units under the Ministry of Health and localities have performed well the collection of patients, timely treatment, and minimized cases of severe transfer, death and infection control. for cross-contamination in medical facilities; review professional and technical guidelines, organize training courses on surveillance and outbreak handling, diagnosis and treatment of hand, foot and mouth disease, dengue fever, especially anthrax.

Health units are active in veterinary forces in surveillance, investigation and handling of human and animal outbreaks. The Ministry will continue to monitor and closely follow the situation of domestic and international infectious diseases; regularly update and evaluate the situation to make timely and appropriate adjustments to epidemic prevention and control plans.

* SOURCE: https://baodantoc.vn/ngan-chan-su-lay-lan-cua-cac-dich-benh-truyen-nhiem-1687096475731.htm