According to statistics from the Dong Thap health sector, by June, dengue fever recorded over 751 cases, an increase of 10.1% (69 cases) over the same period in 2024. The disease remains relatively stable below the 5-year average and epidemic warning levels. From week 17, the number of cases tends to increase compared to the same period in 2024. It is forecast to continue to increase in the upcoming rainy season.
In particular, nearly 1,000 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease have been recorded. In particular, the situation of hand, foot and mouth disease has decreased since the beginning of 2025, however, recently (from week 19) the number of cases has increased and exceeded the average of 2016 - 2020 to maintain over 70 cases/week. The case is forecast to remain high in the coming time.
Doctors warn that this is currently the summer with hot, humid weather and heavy rain creating favorable conditions for the emergence and development of epidemics, especially diseases transmitted through the digestive tract, respiratory tract, diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, especially during the peak tourism period in the summer of 2025 with increased travel demand from people. Dong Thap Department of Health is continuing to maintain monitoring, early detection of cases and timely handling to prevent the epidemic from spreading.
At Can Tho Children's Hospital alone, since the end of May, the number of hand, foot and mouth disease cases has begun to show signs of group bulging, with an average of 40 inpatient cases/day. Doctor Huynh Hung Dung - Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases informed that in order to proactively respond when the disease is likely to increase, the hospital always prepares all medical equipment and treatment drugs.
"In the Infectious Diseases Department, we receive patients not only in Can Tho but also in neighboring provinces. Currently, the department has about 200 beds and is divided into severity areas. Along with preparing treatment drugs, when the number of diseases exceeds the threshold, timely response and arrangement will be arranged" - Mr. Dung added.
It is known that there is currently no specific medicine for hand, foot and mouth disease. Therefore, parents must take their children to a hospital or medical facility immediately to be responsible for treatment if they see the children showing the following symptoms: Continuous high fever of 39 degrees Celsius does not decrease after a positive fever has decreased; shaking and throbbing, panicking, passing away; shaking limbs; weak limbs; children walking on the stomach; children raising their eyes abnormally; vomiting a lot; crying...
According to Dr. Dung, if there are many children in the family, there should be absolute isolation between healthy and sick children in many ways depending on the family situation such as temporarily sending healthy children to another place; encouraging sick children not to play with healthy children during their illness; needing to closely monitor the activities of sick children in daily activities. Adults should wear medical masks for themselves and their children when interacting and caring for sick children.
Note, children can completely suffer from dengue fever and hand, foot and mouth disease at the same time. Although both can cause fever and rash, they have different characteristics.
Accordingly, for dengue fever, it is often a high, continuous, difficult to relieve fever, accompanied by red spots on the skin, and can cause subcutaneous bleeding (inhibition or red patches). As for the hands, feet and mouth, there is often a mild fever or high fever, with nodules and blisters in the mouth, palms, soles of the feet, and buttocks.
