The epidemiology of dengue fever has changed.
At the seminar "Preventing dengue fever - What are the effective solutions?" organized by the Government Electronic Information Portal on December 3, Dr. Hoang Minh Duc - Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health) said that Vietnam currently has 2 endemic diseases in the work of disease prevention and control that we are very concerned about, which are hand, foot and mouth disease and dengue fever. Currently, there is no specific treatment for dengue fever, mainly symptomatic treatment. Dengue fever is caused by 4 different types of viruses and the development and immune response of each type is very complicated. Therefore, forecasting and responding to the epidemic situation caused by the types of viruses is very difficult.
Prof. Dr. Vu Sinh Nam - Senior Advisor on Dengue Fever, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, General Secretary of the Vietnam Preventive Medicine Association, assessed the current dengue fever epidemic in Vietnam: Previously, there was a major epidemic every 10-12 years, but recently from 2019 to 2023 there were 2 major epidemics: in 2019 there were more than 300,000 cases and in 2022 there were 370,000 cases, 150 deaths.
The dengue fever epidemic in Vietnam has changed recently. Previously, it was mainly concentrated in the Mekong Delta and the Central Coast, but has now spread to the Southeast, North Central, and Central Highlands. In particular, northern localities such as Hanoi and some mountainous provinces have also recorded dengue fever outbreaks.
Dr. Hoang Minh Duc added that dengue fever is not easy to control. Previously, there were no specific weapons or vaccines, so dengue fever was mainly controlled and prevented through vectors and symptomatic treatment.
However, vector control is very difficult, in the past we relied on the community to use biological agents to destroy mosquito larvae. In an ecosystem that has never been destroyed by humans, so in the past, mosquito larvae and mosquitoes were mainly in the Mekong Delta, then in urbanized areas, and 11 northern mountainous provinces had never had any dengue fever cases. But now, dengue mosquitoes have moved along the transportation and urbanization systems of the provinces, so dengue fever has reached the northern mountainous provinces.
For example, in Hanoi in 2023, there were more than 40,000 cases, Hanoi has never had such a large number of cases. In 2024, up to this point, Hanoi has more than 7,000 cases.
Dengue fever is still an epidemic that needs attention
Dengue fever is evolving to become more unpredictable and dangerous as it no longer follows a cyclical pattern but also expands its endemic areas.
To date, there is no specific treatment for dengue fever. Vaccines are available, but they are not widely used. Prevention and control of dengue fever currently rely mainly on vector control and changes in people's behavior and habits.
Dr. Hoang Minh Duc added that each year, Vietnam has about 200,000 cases, creating a huge economic burden for the people. We have conducted a study to evaluate the financial costs of dengue fever prevention. Accordingly, each person hospitalized costs from 6-10 million VND, plus each hospitalized person needs a number of family members to accompany and take care of them, creating a huge economic and social burden.
According to the Government Resolution, 14 diseases will be vaccinated free of charge by 2030. However, introducing new vaccines into the Expanded Immunization Program requires a thorough assessment of disease burden, disease prevention effectiveness, vaccine safety, supply capacity and financial resources.
