Can Tho (VNA) –Dengue fevercases in the Mekong Delta increased by 125 percent in the first 15 days of July2017 compared with the same period last year.

An Giang province alone recorded thehighest number of 120 hospitalised cases in the first ten days of this month,followed by Soc Trang province with 110 cases and Dong Thap province, 100cases.

Statistics show that Can ThoPaediatrics Hospital treated 1,290 cases of dengue fever so far this year, up23.68 percent year-on-year. Of them, 450 patients hail from Can Tho city, withthe remainder from 12 cities and provinces in the Mekong Delta.

During the first half of July, thehospital treated 165 dengue patients, a rise of 125 percent against thecorresponding time last year.

Since the beginning of this year,dengue-related deaths have been reported in Dong Thap, Tien Giang and Tra Vinhprovinces.

Notable, dengue fever has increasedsharply this year among children aged between 10-15 in the Mekong Delta,especially in Can Tho city.

According to Bui Hung Viet, head ofthe Dengue Fever Department of Can Tho Paediatrics Hospital, the boom ininfections is due to weather conditions in the early rainy season, which arefavourable for the development of mosquitoes.

He added that dengue fever waspreviously recorded only in the rainy season. However, he said, it now occurs year-rounddue to climate change and out-of -season rains.

Dengue fever istransmitted by mosquitoes carrying the virus. Its symptoms include high fever,headaches and joint aches, which can be confused with symptoms of otherdiseases.

The disease has potentially dangerouscomplications such as shock, respiratory failure, coagulation, liver damage andaltered mental status, and can be fatal.

According to theWorld Health Organisation, dengue is spreading in many countries worldwide.Each year, worldwide, about 20 million people contract dengue and some 500,000are hospitalised.-VNA