VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Health has announced that it has recorded around 42,000 cases of dengue fever, including 33 deaths, so far this year.

The number of patients mounted quickly throughout the country, especially in the central and central highlands regions. At least 18 provinces and cities have reported having dengue fever patients.

The Central Highlands has had over 4,800 cases, a nine-fold increase over the same period last year.

The southern provinces of Ben Tre, An Giang, Dong Thap, and Soc Trang are battling massive outbreaks of the epidemic. In Ben Tre province, the disease has claimed five lives and approximately 3,000 people have been affected.

An Giang reported over 130 people suffering from the disease every week and approximately 2,300 patients have been recorded so far, double the same period last year.

The central provinces of Da Nang and Phu Yen have recorded 3,836 cases of dengue fever, with one death.

Dengue fever - carried by mosquitoes - can lead to headaches, high fever, and other flu-like symptoms, and even to brain hemorrhages. It is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide. The only way to prevent dengue virus transmission is to combat disease-carrying mosquitoes.

PV