The Ministry of Health's April report on epidemic prevention and control indicates a rising trend in many infectious diseases. The country recorded 6,408 dengue fever cases in April, with one fatality. From mid-December 2025 to present, the total number of dengue fever cases has reached nearly 45,000, 1.8 times higher than the same period last year, and fatalities have also increased by two cases. This trend suggests a risk of epidemic outbreaks in the coming period, especially with the onset of the rainy season, which provides favorable conditions for disease-carrying mosquitoes to develop.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease also increased, with over 11,800 cases recorded in April and three fatalities. Cumulatively from late 2025 to present, 34,432 cases have been reported, a 2.5-fold increase compared to the same period last year. This remains the infectious disease with the highest incidence among young children, posing a potential risk of overload at pediatric healthcare facilities if not well-controlled.

Mr. Vo Hai Son, Deputy Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health), stated that the epidemic is most severe in the southern region. Testing systems have detected a high prevalence of the EV71 virus strain, which risks causing severe complications in child patients.

Infusion for a dengue fever patient at Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Photo:Quynh Tran.

Covid-19 is showing signs of resurgence, with 302 cases recorded in April, bringing the total from late 2025 to present to 356, a 4.4-fold increase compared to the same period last year. While few severe cases have been reported, the Ministry of Health assesses that this rise necessitates maintaining vigilance and close monitoring, especially as trade and tourism strongly recover.

Other diseases show stable or decreasing trends. Nearly 17,900 influenza cases were recorded in April, with no fatalities, and the incidence decreased by more than 15% compared to the same period. Measles-like rash fever significantly declined, tens of times lower than last year. Rabies, however, is a concern, with 20 fatalities reported since the beginning of the year.

Dangerous diseases such as Nipah, avian influenza A/H5N1, cholera, and diphtheria did not record any cases in April.

Amidst the complex developments of these epidemics, the Ministry of Health recommends strengthening surveillance of key infectious diseases, ensuring vaccine supply for the expanded immunization program, and finalizing the legal framework for disease prevention efforts. Concurrently, environmental sanitation measures and epidemic prevention during the rainy season are being intensified to limit the risk of widespread outbreaks.

Le Nga