Vientiane Health warns of dengue fever outbreak

Of the human deaths, two have been reported in Saythany and one in Saysettha districts.

“Over the last week, 20 more people have been infected with dengue fever and most of them are from Saythany, Saysettha and Sikhottabong districts,” said Head of, Health Service Vientiane Capital’s Epidemiology Division, Dr. Phonepaseuth Ounaphom.

“At present, we are worried about that the dengue fever outbreak will become worse because this time is rainy season,” said Dr. Phonepaseuth.

“What makes us more worried is that, traditionally, people don’t like to go to hospital when they get ill and decide to take medicine bought from a pharmacist, so when they go to hospital their symptom is too severe so that it, sometimes, beyond the capacity of health official to save their lives,” said Dr. Phonepaseuth.

“Most hospitals in Vientiane are ready to give treatment to people who have been infected with dengue fever so if individuals found their children having dengue fever symptom like bleeding on their skin they should take them to hospital immediately,” advised Dr. Phonepaseuth.

The Health Service of Vientiane Capital has called its residents to apply preventive measures to prevent them from being infected with dengue fever by cleaning, emptying broken jars, destroying mosquito habitats around their houses and sleeping under mosquito net that is preferably insecticidal.