Vietnam will be one of the countries joining in the trial injection of a dengue fever vaccine of Japan, said Prof. Dr Nguyen Van Kinh, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Medical Association.
Dengue fever patients under treatment at the Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Hospital in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam will be one of the countries joining in the trialinjection of a dengue fever vaccine of Japan, said Prof. Dr Nguyen Van Kinh,Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Medical Association.
He revealedthe information on the sidelines of a medical research and application conferenceheld on October 12.
Accordingto the World Health Organisation (WHO), dengue fever is among the top 10 threatsto global health as 40% of the world’s population reside in the areas at riskof dengue infection. It is one of the fastest spreading mosquito-borne diseasesand popular in tropical regions. The disease leads to about 20,000 deathsworldwide each year.
Dengue fever is caused by four dengue virus types, namely DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4, ofwhich DEN-1 and DEN-2 account for 90% of cases. A person infected with a virustype can gain lifelong immunity to that type, but is still at risk ofcontracting others. Particularly, repeat infections are highly dangerous sincethe disease situation is often more severe from the first.
Since the start of 2023, Vietnam hasrecorded more than 90,000 dengue fever cases, including 26 deaths, said theMinistry of Health.
Some countries used to test and licensesome dengue vaccines, but the vaccines’ efficacy has yet to meet expectations,especially when it comes to DEN-2, Kinh said.
Recently, Japan has developed a newvaccine which initially showed efficacy for all the four virus types. The single-dosevaccine can be used for both adults and children.
However, he noted, trialsare necessary to have thorough assessment of the vaccine before it is used on alarge scale./.
The Ministry of Health reports that the number of dengue fever cases across the nation has increased 2.3 times in the first two months of 2023 compared to the same period last year, with southern and central provinces being hit the hardest.
Thailand is experiencing a concerning increase in dengue fever cases this year, with over 19,000 infections reported, marking the highest number in three years.
Health authorities in Laos have reported a significant increase in dengue fever cases across the country, raising concerns among officials and prompting urgent preventive measures.
The People's Committee of Hanoi on August 15 issued a document requesting all relevant units to remain vigilant and continue strictly adhering to directives of the Government and the Prime Minister in controlling dengue fever in the context of the increasing number of cases in the locality.
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Health authorities in HCM City have issued an urgent alert after six people died from dengue fever, amid a spike in infections driven by the onset of the rainy season.
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After such a long time, the law has revealed many limitations, prompting the Ministry of Health (MoH) to gather opinions to amend the law to give more chances to thousands of patients every year.
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The centre not only serves residents living on the island, but also receives tens of thousands of visitors every year, according to Assoc Prof Dr Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the HCM CIty Department of Health.
Not only does Vietnam attract international tourists with its landscapes, culture, and cuisine, but it is also gradually becoming a reliable destination for medical treatment, offering high-quality services at reasonable costs.
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After more than three weeks of intensive treatment, the patient's pneumonia improved, breathing stabilised, sedation was reduced, and the breathing tube was removed. He is now conscious, able to eat orally, and in recovery.
Dengue fever patients under treatment at the Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Hospital in Hanoi (Photo: VNA) 
