Number of COVID-19 cases increases sharply
On March 30, the Hanoi Center for Disease Control (CDC) said that in the past week (from March 20 - 27), Hanoi recorded a continued sharp increase in the number of hand, foot and mouth disease cases, and at the same time, more cases of COVID-19, measles, and whooping cough appeared in many wards and communes in the area.
According to Hanoi CDC, in the week from March 20 to March 27, 17 cases of COVID-19 were recorded in 12 wards and communes. Accumulated from 2026 to date, 29 cases have been recorded in 22 wards and communes, with no deaths. The number of cases increased compared to the same period in 2025, when only 5 cases were recorded in the same period last year.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the SARS-CoV-2 BA.3 variant is currently classified as a monitoring variant group. WHO assesses the risk to public health of this variant as low compared to circulating Omicron strains.
The Ministry of Health is continuing to closely monitor the developments of epidemics and variants circulating around the world; and at the same time direct the preventive health system, medical examination and treatment facilities and related units to maintain monitoring, early detection, risk assessment and be ready to respond when necessary.
The Ministry of Health recommends that people not be panicked but also not subjective; proactively monitor their health, maintain personal hygiene and go to medical facilities when there are suspicious signs, especially for the elderly, people with background diseases, pregnant women and high-risk groups.
Many epidemics are also heating up
The whole city recorded 233 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease in 91 wards and communes, an increase of 46 cases compared to the previous week.
Cases were recorded in many areas such as Doai Phuong, Phu Dong, Phu Dien, Tien Thang, My Duc, Dong Anh... Accumulated from the beginning of 2026 to now, Hanoi has recorded 1,320 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease, with no deaths. Compared to the same period in 2025, the number of cases increased sharply when the same period last year recorded 582 cases.
Notably, patients have appeared in 126 wards and communes. In the week alone, the city recorded 2 more school outbreaks in Doai Phuong and Chuyen My. Since the beginning of 2026, Hanoi has recorded 24 hand, foot and mouth disease outbreaks, of which 5 outbreaks are still active.
Hanoi CDC believes that the number of hand, foot and mouth disease cases in the week continues to increase and is forecast to continue to increase in the coming weeks, especially in schools, kindergartens, and preschools.
Besides hand, foot and mouth disease, in the past week Hanoi recorded 7 cases of dengue fever in 7 wards and communes, a decrease of 3 cases compared to the previous week. Accumulated from the beginning of 2026, the city recorded 181 cases of dengue fever, no deaths, a decrease compared to the same period in 2025 of 199 cases.
During the week, the city did not record any new dengue fever outbreaks. Accumulated from the beginning of the year, Hanoi recorded 1 outbreak, but has now ended operations.
Regarding rabies, Hanoi has not recorded rabies outbreaks in dogs and cats in the week. However, from the beginning of 2026 to now, the city has recorded 3 rabies outbreaks in dogs in Ha Bang and Hoa Lac. Hanoi CDC said that all exposed people have been treated for prevention according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health and are currently in normal health.
In addition, Hanoi also recorded 14 measles cases in 12 wards and communes in the past week. Accumulated from the beginning of 2026 to date, the whole city has 134 measles cases in 76 wards and communes, with no deaths, a sharp decrease compared to the same period in 2025 of 1,247 cases.
The city also recorded 4 cases of whooping cough in Ha Bang, Ha Dong, Chuyen My and Soc Son. Accumulated from the beginning of the year to date, there are 17 cases in 15 wards and communes, with no deaths. Compared to the same period in 2025, the number of whooping coughs has fluctuated but is still at a low level.
According to the Hanoi CDC, measles and whooping cough continue to appear sporadically, mainly in people who have not been vaccinated or have not been fully vaccinated. This agency forecasts that in the near future, more cases may continue to be recorded.
Hanoi CDC requests ward and commune health stations to strengthen monitoring and early detection of cases at medical facilities and communities, especially hand, foot and mouth disease in nurseries and kindergartens; and at the same time clean and disinfect classrooms and toys to prevent epidemics.
Local health sectors are also required to closely coordinate with the veterinary sector to monitor animal diseases, proactively prevent and control diseases transmitted from animals to humans.
In addition, units continue to promote propaganda, promptly update on the epidemic situation and measures to prevent and control diseases such as dengue fever, hand, foot and mouth disease, streptococcus suis, measles, flu, whooping cough... to help people proactively prevent and coordinate epidemic handling.
