Recommendations for preventing and combating some common diseases during the rainy and flood season

Furthermore, heavy rains and floods are favorable conditions for bacteria, viruses and disease vectors to grow and cause diseases in humans. Common diseases during the flood season are: acute diarrhea, respiratory diseases, eye diseases, skin diseases, dengue fever, etc.

Since May 2025, there have been many heavy rains causing localized flooding and landslides in some localities and it is forecasted that there will be storms and many heavy rains in the coming time. The Prime Minister has issued Official Dispatch No. 76/CD-TTg dated May 28, 2025, Official Dispatch No. 86/CD-TTg dated June 10, 2025 on proactively responding to tropical depressions that are likely to strengthen into storms and floods.

To proactively prevent and control diseases that may occur during and after floods, storms, and heavy rains, the Ministry of Health recommends measures to prevent and control diseases before and during floods, storms, and heavy rains, specifically:

- Ensure safe and hygienic food selection and preparation, eat cooked food and boiled water. Absolutely do not use dead livestock or poultry as food or food preparation. For areas affected by flooding and landslides that cause isolation, have a plan to ensure the supply of safe food, food, and drinking water. Encourage people to use processed foods, ready-to-eat foods such as dry food, instant noodles, and bottled water.

- Wash your hands regularly with soap before and after preparing food, before eating and after using the toilet.

- Daily personal hygiene, wash feet and dry between toes after contact with flood water or contaminated water.

- Clean up as water drains, collect and dispose of animal and poultry carcasses according to the instructions of medical staff.

- In case water sources such as drilled wells and open wells are flooded, they must be filtered and disinfected before use. Clean water tanks, wells, water containers and use chemicals to disinfect drinking water and domestic water according to the instructions of medical staff.

- Kill larvae/wigglers, kill mosquitoes.

- When there are signs of suspected infection, you need to go to the nearest medical facility for examination and treatment.