VOV.VN - The Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre has reported over 900 cases of dengue fever as of early August, a sharp increase of 148 per cent in comparison with last year.

Outbreaks of dengue fever have been detected in a total of nine districts and cities across the province. Of the districts, Ba Tri has seen the highest number of cases of dengue fever with 170, followed by the districts of Mo Cay Nam and Chau Thanh.

Most notably, the number of severe cases accounted for 1.4 per cent of the total figure, while the number of patients aged above 15 years old accounted for 15 per cent.

According to Vo Hong Khanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Health, in order to cope with the complicated nature of dengue fever, the province’s health sector will continue to enforce preventive measures to combat the disease. 

This will involve tightening control over the source of the disease through the preparation of sufficient quantities of chemicals and medicines, in addition to raising awareness of dengue fever at local schools.

In addition to these measures, localities have sprayed chemicals to fight some of the 289 outbreaks of dengue fever reported. 

In addition, they will continue to launch campaigns aimed at encouraging people to preserve the environment whilst also to eradicate mosquito larvae found in residential areas and households in order to prevent the spread of the disease.