The epidemic situation in Ho Chi Minh City is improving.

According to statistics from the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC), in week 21 (May 18-24), Ho Chi Minh City recorded 1,041 cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease, a stable 7.3% compared to the average of the previous four weeks. From the beginning of the year to the end of week 21, the total number of hand, foot, and mouth disease cases is 18,141. Areas with high incidence rates per 100,000 people include Con Dao Special Economic Zone, Binh Khanh, and Long Dien.

Children with hand, foot, and mouth disease in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hoai Bao .

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common infectious disease in young children, especially those under 5 years old. The disease is primarily transmitted through the digestive tract, contact with nasal and throat secretions, saliva, feces of infected individuals, or objects contaminated with the virus.

Common symptoms include fever, sore throat, loss of appetite, and blisters on the palms, soles, mouth, or buttocks. Some cases can progress to severe neurological and cardiovascular complications if not detected early.

Meanwhile, according to the HCDC, dengue fever is showing a downward trend. In the past week, the city recorded 372 cases of dengue fever, a 20.0% decrease compared to the average of the previous four weeks. Cumulatively from the beginning of the year to date, the city has had 17,278 cases.

Some localities have a high dengue fever incidence rate per 100,000 people, including An Nhon Tay, Tay Thanh, and Tay Nam. Although the number of cases is decreasing, the health sector warns that the risk of the epidemic returning remains due to weather conditions favorable for the development of disease-transmitting mosquitoes.

The health sector believes that the current erratic weather, with alternating rain and sunshine, creates favorable conditions for disease-carrying mosquitoes to thrive, increasing the risk of outbreaks in the near future.

Dengue fever typically presents with a sudden high fever, headache, muscle aches, and a rash. Patients need close monitoring, especially during the 3rd to 7th day of the illness, as there is a risk of dangerous complications such as shock, severe bleeding, or multiple organ failure.

To prevent the disease, the HCDC recommends that parents strictly adhere to personal hygiene measures, including:

Wash your hands frequently with soap, especially before eating and after caring for children.
Clean toys, household items, and surfaces that are frequently touched every day.
Keep children away from people suspected of having hand, foot, and mouth disease.
Eliminate mosquito breeding grounds such as stagnant water and unnecessary water containers.
Sleep under a mosquito net, even during the day, to prevent mosquito bites.

The health sector also advises people to take children or sick people to medical facilities immediately when unusual signs appear, such as persistent high fever, lethargy, difficulty breathing, frequent vomiting, seizures, or unusual bleeding, so that they can be monitored and treated promptly.

Source: https://znews.vn/dich-benh-tai-tphcm-chuyen-bien-tich-cuc-post1655209.html