Hanoi (VNA) – Tran Dac Phu, head of the Ministry of Health’sDepartment of Preventive Medicine, speaks to the online VietnamPlusnewspaper about the latest wave of whooping cough, which has killed fivechildren.

Q: In the last two months, there have been more than 55 cases of whooping coughin Vietnam, mostly in children, according to the Department of PreventiveMedicine. Five have died. How do you rate the development of the epidemic thisyear?

A: Whooping cough is a very strong and highly contagious disease of therespiratory tract, occurring more in cold, humid weather. 

We have been monitoring the disease since 2012, and the number of cases hasincreased slightly. On average, there are over 100 cases every year. In thefirst few months of this year there have been several dozen cases, but mainlyin the cold and wet weather. This is a very weather-sensitive type ofrespiratory disease. This also explains why most cases occur in the North. Theyare mostly concentrated in the Ha Noi area and the outbreak does not appearwidespread, but we still have to be alert.

Q: So is there anything special about the disease this year?

A: Most patients are children under 3 months old, as in the past. Most of themare under the age of immunisation or not yet fully immunised.

Q: What kind of solutions does the health sector have to deal with whoopingcough?

A: The keys are early detection, isolation, and timely treatment to minimisemortality.

Our view is that treatment must first reduce the number of deaths, so that evenif the number of those affected is high, people will not be overly worried.

Therefore, early detection is very important. Medical workers at commune,district and provincial levels should be able to diagnose the disease correctlyand provide timely treatment to prevent complications.

Medical facilities need to be aware of cases, too, and avoidcross-contamination. Patients suspected of whooping cough should not be nearother patients.

Q: What advice do you give to prevent whooping cough?

A: Over the past few years, thanks to good vaccination work, the number ofwhooping cough cases and diphtheria has decreased a lot. Parents should taketheir children to get vaccinated on time. For women of childbearing age whohave never had whooping cough, the tetanus-pertussis-tetanus vaccine can begiven to immunise mothers and their children. This vaccine is given to peopleaged 6-64.

According to the manufacturer, the vaccine can be used for pregnant women untilthe 20th week of pregnancy. However, the Ministry of Health is assigning theDrug Administration and the National Expanded Programme on Immunisation toreview for specific guidelines.-VNA