HCM City launched a citywide campaign on Saturday to strengthen hand, foot and mouth disease prevention after more than 44,000 cases were recorded since the start of the year. Health authorities warned of increased transmission risks in schools and childcare facilities.
The city recorded more than 44,000 cases from the beginning of the year, up 65 per cent year on year. The figures also include five deaths and more than 1,600 outbreaks, according to the municipal Department of Health. The circulation of Enterovirus 71 (EV71), a strain associated with severe complications and potentially fatal infections, has increased concern, particularly among young children.
Speaking at a ceremony launching a peak campaign to prevent dengue fever and hand, foot and mouth disease, Huỳnh Minh Chín, deputy director of the Department of Health, said the rising number of infections at kindergartens and childcare facilities required urgent action to strengthen disease surveillance and control. The campaign will run until the end of 2026, with local authorities, healthcare facilities and educational institutions coordinating prevention and early detection.
The HCM City Centre for Disease Control (HCDC) instructed kindergartens, childcare groups and paediatric vaccination facilities to clean daily and disinfect at least once a week, more often when infections or outbreaks are detected. Schools and childcare facilities must monitor children's health daily, identify suspected cases early and notify local health stations.
Parents were urged to work with schools, keep children with suspected or confirmed infections at home in accordance with medical guidance and maintain proper hygiene. Caregivers should wash their hands with soap and clean water before preparing food or feeding children, and after changing nappies or cleaning children. Toys, furniture, floors and frequently touched surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected regularly. The campaign also includes stronger surveillance, inspections and early detection of severe cases. The city has also recorded more than 42,500 dengue cases since the beginning of the year, including 11 deaths, and infections are rising again during the rainy season. Authorities urged households to remove stagnant water, eliminate mosquito breeding sites and keep their surroundings clean.
Sources: Viet Nam News
