Ho Chi Minh City has so far this year recorded nearly 14,000 cases of dengue fever or a 35 percent year-on-year increase, a senior city health official has said.

He said while the city has managed to control somewhat the spread of the mosquito-borne fever, the situation remained complicated.

Districts 6, 8, 10, 11, Tan Binh and Tan Phu are still the worst-hit areas.

Tho also cautioned district health agencies against ignoring malaria as a threat, noting a patient had recently died because it was discovered too late.

Reported by Thanh Tung