Washing hands regularly can help prevent virus-based diseases, whichhave become more prevalent worldwide, heard a seminar on May 19 in HoChi Minh City.

"Prevention of virus-based diseases is a topicconcerning the health industry, whole society, community, family andindividual," said Associate Professor and Tran Dac Phu, head of theMinistry of Health's Preventive Medicine Department.

Phu spoke during a seminar on preventive measures to adapt to new changes in viruses worldwide.

"Accordingto a World Health Organisation report in 2013, virus-based diarrheakilled 2.2 million people worldwide, accounting for 4 percent of totalfatalities," Claire McDonald from the Royal Society for Public Health(RSPH) said at the seminar.

Nguyen Dac Khoa, an expert from the department, said that foot and mouth, flu, trachoma and diarrhea were common in Vietnam.

"During May and August from 2010 to 2014, Vietnam had 400,000 flu patients and 250,000 victims of diarrhea," he said.

Virusescan spread more easily in Vietnam because of the tropical weather, poorenvironmental hygiene, limited individual hygiene, lack of effectivespecific remedies and preventive vaccines.

These factors can worsen illnesses, especially respiratory, digestive and infectious diseases.

Hesuggested that everyone perform a simple activity: effectivehand-washing with soap regularly every day, to prevent the spread ofviruses.

"Hand-washing with soap would eliminate the situation of80 percent of viruses causing disease through unhygienic hands," hesaid.

A report from the World Bank showed that an investment of3.35 USD in washing hands with soap can bring a benefit equal to 11 USDto upgrade toilets and 223 USD to link water supplies to households.-VNA