HANOI, Vietnam (25/8/2025): The Ministry of Health has issued an urgent directive to all provinces and municipalities, warning of a heightened risk of a significant dengue fever outbreak as the country enters the peak of its annual rainy season.
The directive, released Mnday, calls for an immediate escalation of prevention and control measures at the local level. Citing complex weather patterns and increased rainfall, health officials are urging communities to focus on eradicating mosquito breeding sites to prevent a surge in cases of the dangerous vector-borne disease.
The Threat of Dengue Fever
Dengue fever is a viral infection transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes, primarily the Aedes aegypti mosquito. This species is particularly effective at spreading the disease in urban and semi-urban areas as it is well-adapted to living around humans.
Key characteristics of the disease and its vector include:
- Symptoms: Infection typically causes flu-like symptoms, including a high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash.
- Severe Dengue: In some cases, the illness can progress to a more severe form known as dengue hemorrhagic fever, which can cause severe bleeding, a sudden drop in blood pressure (shock), and death.
- The Vector: The Aedes aegypti mosquito is a day-biting insect, with peak activity during the early morning and late afternoon. It breeds in containers with clean, standing water.
Why Now? The Rainy Season Danger
The Ministry's warning is timed to coincide with the most dangerous period for dengue transmission in Vietnam. The rainy season, which typically peaks from July to October, creates a perfect storm of conditions for the Aedes mosquito population to explode.
Frequent and heavy rainfall leads to the accumulation of standing water in countless artificial containers commonly found in and around homes. These become ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Health officials have identified common risk areas such as:
- Discarded tires and plastic containers
- Flower pots and decorative vases
- Uncovered water storage tanks and barrels
- Clogged gutters and drains
A single female mosquito can lay hundreds of eggs in these small pools of water, leading to a rapid increase in the mosquito population and, consequently, a higher risk of disease transmission.
A Call to Action: Prevention and Control Measures
In its directive, the Ministry of Health has outlined a clear, two-pronged strategy focusing on eliminating the source of the outbreak.
1. Source Reduction (Eradicating Larvae):
This is the most critical and effective long-term measure. The Ministry has called on local authorities and citizens to actively search for and eliminate all potential mosquito breeding sites. The key message is "No standing water, no mosquitoes." Recommended actions include:
- Regularly emptying, cleaning, and covering all household water containers.
- Properly disposing of all waste that can collect water.
- Clearing gutters and drains to ensure proper water flow.
- Encouraging the use of larvivorous fish in larger, permanent water containers.
2. Vector Control (Killing Adult Mosquitoes):
For areas that have already been identified as outbreak hotspots, the directive calls for strategic chemical spraying or "fogging." This measure is designed to quickly kill adult, infected mosquitoes, thereby breaking the cycle of transmission and preventing the outbreak from spreading further.
A representative from the Ministry's General Department of Preventive Medicine stated, "Community participation is absolutely critical. Proactively eradicating mosquito breeding sites in and around our own homes is the most effective way to protect our families and our neighborhoods from dengue fever. We urge all citizens to take this warning seriously and act immediately."
