HCMC – The Ministry of Health has urged the local authorities to be on the alert for the adenovirus as infections have dramatically risen recently.
Vietnam has reported 1,406 adenovirus cases since the beginning of this year, including seven deaths and 811 hospitalizations, according to statistics of Vietnam National Children’s Hospital released on September 22.
From August to September 21 this year, the country detected 1,316 adenovirus cases, with 738 of them hospitalized. The overall number of hospitalized children accounts for some 4% of the total number of inpatients.
On September 21, the Department of Preventive Medicine required local authorities and hospitals to strengthen surveillance, detect infected cases and prevent the spread of the adenovirus as soon as possible.
Medical centers and hospitals have been assigned to strictly prevent cross-infections, instruct the patient’s family members on preventative measures and make an effort to minimize the death toll.
The department also called for public awareness about adenovirus infections and preventative measures, including washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoiding touching mouths and noses with unwashed hands, and avoiding close contact with the sick.
The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology should urgently coordinate with the National Children’s Hospital to investigate and analyze the epidemiology of the adenovirus infection and death to promptly propose solutions to control the disease.
The institutes of hygiene and epidemiology and the Pasteur Institute have been assigned to monitor the development of adenovirus infections in each city and province to identify the risk of the epidemic and draw up appropriate solutions.
