VOV.VN - The southern province of Ba Ria Vung Tau has recorded a total of 7,728 cases of dengue fever, including four deaths from the beginning of the year to late August, a close to a 10 fold-increase in comparison to last year, according to the provincial medical sector.

During the September 3 meeting to discuss preventive measures to combat the spread of the dengue epidemic in the region, Tran Van Tuan, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said the health sector has failed to give timely warnings about dengue fever. As a result, there is a significant threat that the epidemic will remain prevalent during the remaining four months of the year. 

Of all of the country’s provinces, Ba Ria Vung Tau ranked third in terms of the number of cases of dengue fever, only behind HCM City and the southern province of Dong Nai. 

At present, Vung Tau city has been the hardest hit locality with the highest number of dengue fever cases reaching approximately 2,300, followed by Chau Duc district with 2,131. Most notably, the number of dengue fever cases in Chau Duc district saw a 30-fold increase in comparison with the same period last year. 

Close to 1,600 outbreaks of dengue fever have been detected in 75 communes across eight districts and towns in the city so far. 

According to the provincial medical sector, there has been a transformation of dengue virus type 1 to  dengue virus type 2 on a large scale in the province, which can cause to severe complications, in some cases leading to death. 

During the remaining months of the year, the dengue fever epidemic is forecast to become more prevalent throughout the province.