There is a high risk of an outbreak of the mosquito-borne denguefever in 2015 because of strong increases in infection cases andabnormal weather patterns in the early months of 2015.

The Ministry of Health’s General Department of Preventive Medicinemade the statement at a conference on the dengue fever situation in 2015held in HCM City on April 14.

The PasteurInstitute in HCM City said the number of dengue fever cases recordedin the City in late 2014 and the early months of 2015 was above theincidence rate in the same period a year ago.

Beside a constantly high rate of dengue virus in the city, the weather has featured some abnormal patterns.

In order to prevent an outbreak, the ministry asked localities totake drastic measures to control the causes of the disease andquarantine infections at industrial parks, schools and residentialareas.

Nguyen Thanh Long, Deputy Minister ofHealth, called on localities to train grassroots health personnel on thediagnosis and treatment of the disease.

LuongNgoc Khue, Director of the General Department of Preventive Medicine,said the department will work with provincial hospitals to maintain the‘hot line against the disease at grassroots health centres.

The department will maintain treatment readiness in central,provincial and district hospitals to prepare for complicated cases, Khuesaid.

According to the department, dengue feveroccurs mainly in southern and central provinces with 8,320 casesrecorded in the first three months of the year in 40 provinces andcities, six of whom have died.-VNA