Accepting prison ponds and stagnant water due to cheap prices
Recently, in Can Tho City, there has been a lot of rain, along with hot and humid weather, creating conditions for mosquitoes to breed, easily increasing the risk of dengue fever. This is also a concern for the family of female garment worker Nguyen Thi Hang (Binh Thuy ward).
To save money, Ms. Hang rented an old room near the company for 1.1 million VND/month. According to observations, around the boarding house is a plot of land overgrown with grass, and the muddy water has not receded for a long time.
"When I first rented, I also saw the rental room was damp and overgrown with grass, but because the price was cheap, I thought I would rent it first. Every day after the rain, it is sunny, so at night, mosquitoes fly all over the room," said Ms. Hang.
Meanwhile, despite renting a cheap room and a new room, female office worker Bui Thi Thao (Cai Rang ward) did not dare to open the room's windows to keep them airy because she was afraid that mosquitoes from the prison pond in front of the escape route would enter.
Ms. Thao said: "There is a small pond with stagnant water all year round in front of the door. Every few rains, water rises to flood the grass, mosquitoes fly everywhere. Since my child was stung by mosquitoes and had a fever and had to be hospitalized, I did not dare to open the windows for fear that mosquitoes would fly in."
Prevention in many ways
Knowing the dangers of dengue fever, to prevent the disease for her child, Ms. Thao always had sleepingovers day or night, oiled her child with cauliflower oil and cleaned the room regularly.
Ms. Thao said: The authorities also came to the boarding house to spray mosquito spray, kill bedbugs and promote. But I still have to prevent the disease myself first, if I see too many mosquitoes, I will look for a cleaner place to rent.
Mr. Nguyen Viet Quang - a landlord in Cai Rang ward, Can Tho city - said: "Because the boarding house was built near an empty area with few residents, there was a lot of wild grass growing. When I see grass growing high, I have someone clean it, to limit the increase of flies and mosquitoes and cause diseases for tenants".
According to the report of the Center for Disease Control of Can Tho City (CDC Can Tho), as of July 25, 2025, Can Tho City (old) recorded 561 cases of dengue fever (SXHD), an increase of 226 cases compared to the same period last year, no deaths were recorded.
Previously, the Department of Disease Prevention (Ministry of Health) sent a document to localities on the implementation of the Prime Minister's telegram on dengue prevention and control.
The document clearly stated that localities are required to strengthen supervision, immediate and thorough handling of outbreaks and implement activities to prevent dengue fever; Organize inspection and supervision teams to eliminate mosquito larvae and ticks; Treatment facilities are ready to admit, provide emergency care and treat patients, support professional technical support for lower levels and treatment centers to avoid hospital overload, prevent cross-infection in hospitals...
