Dengue Fever Outbreak in Nghe An, Vietnam: 59 Cases Recorded

An outbreak of Dengue fever has been confirmed in Quynh Anh commune, Nghe An province, central Vietnam, with 59 cases reported as of September 4. The virus has spread silently among local residents, prompting public health authorities to heighten their vigilance. According to epidemiological investigations, the first case was identified in Quynh Bang village 1 on August 17, presenting with symptoms of fever, dizziness, headache, and muscle pain. The patient subsequently tested positive for the Dengue virus via rapid test at Quynh Luu General Hospital and was confirmed by PCR testing by the Nghe An Provincial Center for Disease Control (CDC Nghe An). Of concern is that the patient had no travel history to or from any affected areas in the 14 days prior to symptom onset, suggesting that the pathogen had been circulating locally undetected. By August 23, 19 cases were recorded in Quynh Bang village 1, and the number continued to surge. Vector surveillance results conducted by CDC Nghe An on August 24 in Quynh Bang village 1 (435 households, 2,020 residents) indicated a high risk of an outbreak. An investigation of 30 households revealed a BI (Breteau Index) of 33, significantly exceeding the outbreak alert threshold (BI ≥20). The index of houses with larvae was 26%, with a mosquito density of 0.1 per house and 10% of houses containing mosquitoes. As of the morning of September 4, the number of Dengue fever cases in Quynh Bang village 1 (Quynh Anh commune) had risen to 54 (with 5 new cases recorded on September 3). Additionally, 2 cases were reported in Quynh Bang village 6 and 2 in Quynh Bang village 3. Dr. Chu Trong Trang, Director of CDC Nghe An, stated that out of the 59 infected individuals, 43 have recovered, while 16 are currently receiving treatment at Quynh Luu General Hospital. In response to the evolving situation, the health sector and local authorities are mobilizing the entire political system to implement synchronized measures for containment, treatment of the outbreak foci, and control of its spread. Residents are advised to clean their surroundings, collect waste, overturn unnecessary water containers, and eliminate mosquito larvae at the household level. Previous site inspections by a CDC Nghe An monitoring team had identified numerous mosquito breeding sites in coconut shells, old tires, and other discarded items interspersed within residential areas. These serve as favorable breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes, while the lack of attention to environmental sanitation and waste collection in some households increases the risk of disease transmission.