HANOI, July 14 (Xinhua) — Vietnam’s two largest cities, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, are stepping up measures to tackle a sharp rise in dengue fever cases in recent weeks, Vietnam News Agency reported Monday.
In Hanoi, 34 new infections were reported last week, marking an increase of 13 cases from the previous week, according to the capital’s Center for Disease Control.
The center has identified several outbreak clusters with high mosquito density and warned that infections are likely to rise as the city enters its annual peak season for the disease.
Meanwhile, health authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have issued an urgent alert after six dengue-related deaths were recorded since the beginning of the year.
The southern metropolis registered 838 new cases in the past week alone, bringing the total to 14,370 cases this year, a surge of more than 153 percent compared to the same period last year, the state-owned media reported.
Local residents have been urged to eliminate standing water, regularly clean water containers and report potential mosquito breeding grounds via a designated health app. ■