Vietnam will soon have a vaccine against hand, foot, and mouth disease.

Infectious diseases are making a comeback, and there's a shortage of treatment drugs.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong delivered a speech.

Reporting to the working group, Dr. Nguyen Vu Thuong, Deputy Director of the Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City, stated that the infectious disease surveillance system in 20 southern provinces and cities recorded approximately 9,000 cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease in the first five months of this year, averaging about 400 cases per week (45% lower than the same period in 2022). However, the number of new cases has been trending upwards again in the past two months, notably with an increase in severe cases and deaths due to hand, foot, and mouth disease, which are higher than the same period last year. Currently, there are 7 deaths due to hand, foot, and mouth disease in the southern region. Localities with a high number of severe cases include Binh Duong, Dong Nai, An Giang , Kien Giang, and Ho Chi Minh City. Surveillance and testing activities have also revealed that the EV71 virus is gradually becoming the dominant virus in samples from severe cases.

"The EV71 virus is a common cause of outbreaks, leading to complications and a higher risk of death than other virus strains that caused serious outbreaks in 2011 and 2018," Dr. Nguyen Vu Thuong stated, then warned that the hand, foot, and mouth disease situation is expected to become more complicated in the coming period, as this is the time of year when the disease increases sharply.

Besides hand, foot, and mouth disease, dengue fever is also escalating. In Ho Chi Minh City alone, 8,091 cases of dengue fever have been recorded (46% lower than the same period in 2022), with no deaths reported. According to the Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health , Nguyen Van Vinh Chau, although the number of dengue fever and hand, foot, and mouth disease cases is lower than in the same period of 2022, the number of severe cases is higher. The city has recorded 4 child deaths at Children's Hospital 1 due to hand, foot, and mouth disease. All 4 cases were transferred from other provinces and cities.

Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health Nguyen Van Vinh Chau delivered a speech.

According to Associate Professor, Doctor Nguyen Thanh Hung, Director of Children's Hospital 1, compared to previous years, the number of children hospitalized with hand, foot, and mouth disease this year has not increased, but the number of severe cases has increased 2.5 times; many of these children are admitted in critical condition. The most worrying issue currently, according to Associate Professor, Doctor Nguyen Thanh Hung, is the shortage of medications for severe hand, foot, and mouth disease, such as intravenous Gamma Globulin and Phenobarbital. While intravenous Phenobarbital is not expected to be supplied until July, Gamma Globulin is currently scarce globally. "The Ministry of Health needs to reallocate hand, foot, and mouth disease referrals to four hospitals: Children's Hospital 1, Children's Hospital 2, City Children's Hospital, and the Tropical Diseases Hospital to share the burden," Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hung proposed.

Regarding this issue, the Drug Administration of the Ministry of Health stated that currently, Vietnam only has over 2,300 vials of Gamma Globulin, of which 300 vials are in the warehouse of Cho Ray Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City), and more than 2,000 vials are in the warehouse of a pharmaceutical company. More of this drug will only be available for import by mid-August.

Associate Professor, Doctor Nguyen Hoang Bac, Director of the University Medical Center of Ho Chi Minh City

Faced with a shortage of medication for hand, foot, and mouth disease at tertiary hospitals, the leaders of Cho Ray Hospital and Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital stated that the two units are ready to provide resources to share the burden of treating infectious diseases with other hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City and provinces and cities in the southern region.

Policies to protect those involved in the bidding process should be implemented soon.

Highly appreciating the disease prevention and control efforts of Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces and cities, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong stated that, given objective conditions, the situation regarding infectious diseases this year is predicted to be more complex. To respond to this situation, the Deputy Minister suggested that Ho Chi Minh City and the 20 provinces and cities, in addition to raising vigilance against hand, foot, and mouth disease in children, should also pay attention to adults, as many adults are infected but asymptomatic and become a source of reinfection for children.

The Deputy Minister also requested localities to intensify the sampling and testing for genetic and viral strain assessment, sending samples to the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology or other units in Ho Chi Minh City. This work is crucial for accurate assessment of variants and timely implementation of prevention and control measures. In disease surveillance, coordination and information sharing between the prevention and treatment sectors are necessary to promptly address outbreaks and limit disease spread. Simultaneously, provinces and cities must urgently issue plans for the prevention and control of infectious diseases in 2023, ensuring the "four on-site" principle. Once plans are in place, if they are not yet approved or are awaiting approval, the Deputy Minister requested that the Provincial/City People's Committees be advised to promptly approve funding for the proactive implementation of prevention and control measures against hand, foot and mouth disease, dengue fever, and Covid-19.

Simultaneously, it is necessary to strengthen monitoring and surveillance of the epidemic situation, detect and handle outbreaks promptly, and prevent the emergence of new outbreaks. A reporting system is crucial, as some provinces and cities have reported late, affecting epidemic prevention, control, and emergency treatment. The 20 southern provinces and cities, especially Ho Chi Minh City, should promptly organize training, support, and provide knowledge to improve the capacity of private clinics and non-public medical facilities to enhance their knowledge of disease prevention and treatment according to tiered systems; higher-level hospitals should support remote treatment for lower-level medical facilities. The city must also effectively manage the procurement of medicines and medical supplies; intensify mosquito control and environmental disinfection activities; and disseminate information about the disease to the public.

"A company producing a hand, foot, and mouth disease vaccine has submitted an application to the Drug Administration. Hopefully, this vaccine will be licensed by the end of the year," Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong added.

Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, Duong Anh Duc

Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Vice Chairman Duong Anh Duc affirmed that the prevention and control of infectious diseases has always been a top priority for the city's leaders. Since the beginning of 2023, the city has implemented numerous prevention and control measures to limit the number of cases, severe cases, and deaths. In the coming period, in addition to the implemented disease prevention and control measures, Ho Chi Minh City will continue to strengthen communication efforts and raise public awareness to further reduce the number of cases and minimize resource expenditure.

Leaders of departments, agencies, and districts of Ho Chi Minh City spoke at the working session.

Regarding the establishment of regional centers for stockpiling rare medicines, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, Duong Anh Duc, proposed that the Ministry of Health utilize the resources of Cho Ray Hospital to develop it into a center for stockpiling rare medicines for the Southern region. “The Ministry of Health needs to promptly issue mechanisms and policies to address financial issues arising from unused medicine reserves. Only then can we alleviate the concerns of medical staff when conducting procurement and bidding processes, ensuring the supply of medicines for treating epidemics,” the Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee suggested.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/viet-nam-sap-co-vaccine-phong-benh-tay-chan-mieng-post694759.html