August 14, 2025
HO CHI MINH – The number of dengue fever cases in the southern region in the first eight months of the year rose by 97 per cent compared to the figure for the entire year of 2024, according to the latest report of the Pasteur Institute in HCM City.
As of August 3, the southern region recorded more than 44,400 dengue cases and 11 dengue-related deaths compared to only 22,473 cases and seven deaths in the same period last year.
Around 70 per cent of the 11 reported deaths were adults.
The number of dengue cases in the south in the first six months of 2025 was equivalent to the entire year of 2024, said Dr. Lương Chấn Quang, head of the Institute’s Department of Disease Control and Prevention.
Test results of nearly 500 serum samples show that dengue virus serotype 2, also known as DENV-2, has been predominant since 2022, Quang said at a meeting on the response to dengue fever and infectious diseases held on Tuesday in HCM City.
DENV-2 often causes large outbreaks and has a higher rate of severe illness than other types, he said.
The rate of severe cases is currently at 2.3 per cent, equivalent to the average of many years. The mortality rate remains low at 0.027 per cent in adults and 0.021 per cent in children.
Regarding Chikungunya disease, no cases have been detected through surveillance systems in border provinces, he said.
However, there is a risk of the mosquito-borne Chikungunya virus entering Việt Nam. Chikungunya is spread by Aedes species mosquitoes, the same types of mosquitoes that spread dengue viruses.
As of August 3, the southern region recorded 36,141 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease and 11 deaths from hand, foot and mouth disease. The number of cases increased by 31.7 per cent compared to the same period last year.
It is forecast that hand, foot and mouth infections will increase at the beginning of the upcoming school year.
Meanwhile, the region recorded 38,850 measles cases and seven deaths over the period.