Directive No. 05/2006/CT-BYT on Strengthening Work to Prevent and Control Dengue Fever

DIRECTIVE

On strengthening work to prevent and control dengue fever

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Dengue fever is currently showing an increasing trend and complex development in many countries around the world. In 2006, cases of dengue fever were reported to be high in countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore...

In Vietnam, according to reports from localities for the first four months of 2006, there were 9,431 cases of dengue fever nationwide, including 6 deaths. Compared to the same period in 2005, the number of cases increased by 35.4%, and the number of deaths doubled. The majority of dengue fever cases were concentrated mainly in southern provinces and cities, accounting for 93% of the national total. Some localities with high numbers of cases include Ho Chi Minh City (1,999 cases), Tien Giang Province (696 cases), Soc Trang Province (676 cases)... Compared to 2004, which had the highest number of dengue fever cases, the number of dengue fever cases has increased by 7.4%.

Given the current risk of a dengue fever epidemic with a rising trend and complex developments, with the potential to escalate into a large-scale outbreak, to proactively prevent and control the disease, minimize the incidence rate and mortality, the Minister of Health issues the following directive:

1. Directors of Health Departments of provinces and centrally governed cities shall be responsible for:

a) Timely reporting to the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province/city on the development of the dengue fever epidemic and preventive measures at the local level. Advising the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province to mobilize all resources from agencies, organizations, and individuals within the province for the prevention and control of dengue fever;

b) Coordinating with authorities at all levels to organize extensive environmental sanitation activities, mosquito larvae eradication (wrigglers) to every agency and household weekly before and during the dengue fever season, making environmental sanitation and mosquito larvae elimination (wrigglers) regular activities at agencies and households. Strengthening supervision, promptly detecting and handling cases to minimize mortality due to dengue fever as much as possible;

c) Directing healthcare facilities under their management to prepare sufficient stocks of medicines, emergency equipment, and treatment supplies to promptly diagnose, admit, and treat patients in case of a large-scale outbreak. Establishing mobile emergency teams ready to provide professional support to units in emergency care and treatment of dengue fever patients;

d) Directing the Provincial Health Education and Communication Center to coordinate with relevant units to organize publicity and education about the symptoms of dengue fever and preventive measures to enable the public to understand and voluntarily participate in community dengue fever prevention activities;

đ) Strictly implementing the Regulation on Information and Reporting of Infectious Diseases Causing Epidemics issued together with Decision No. 4880/2002/QĐ-BYT dated December 6, 2002, of the Minister of Health.specialized agency under the People's Committee of the province/city. strictly comply with the Information and Reporting Regulation on Epidemic Diseases issued together with Decision No. 4880/2002/QĐ-BYT dated December 6, 2002, of the Minister of Health.

2. The Department of Preventive Medicine of Vietnam shall be responsible for:

Coordinating with the Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City - National Project Management Board for Dengue Fever Prevention and Control Phase 2006-2010 to monitor the development of the dengue fever epidemic and advise the Minister of Health on directing dengue fever prevention and control nationwide.

3. The Treatment Department shall be responsible for:

Organizing training sessions for units and localities on the diagnosis and treatment of dengue fever to minimize severe progression and mortality rates.

4. The Planning and Finance Department shall be responsible for:

Summarizing and coordinating state budget resources, domestic and international organization funding for dengue fever prevention and control efforts.

5. The Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City shall be responsible for:

a) As the Head of the National Project Management Board for Dengue Fever Prevention and Control Phase 2006-2010, directly directing and participating in dengue fever prevention and control, extinguishing new outbreaks. Guiding localities to intensify surveillance activities, timely using chemicals to control outbreaks;

b) Advising the Ministry of Health on directing dengue fever prevention and control nationwide;

specialized agency under the People's Committee of the province/city.c) Coordinating with the Treatment Department in organizing training sessions for units and localities on diagnosing and treating dengue fever patients.

6. Institutes: Central Epidemiology, Pasteur Nha Trang, and West Highland Epidemiology shall be responsible for:

As Heads of Regional Project Management Boards for Dengue Fever Prevention and Control, they shall be responsible for monitoring, supervising, and controlling dengue fever outbreaks in provinces and cities under their jurisdiction.

7. Central hospitals shall be responsible for:

a) Preparing adequate stocks of medicines, medical equipment, and other necessary supplies to promptly support localities in diagnosing, admitting, and treating dengue fever patients;

b) Dispatching specialized personnel to support localities experiencing dengue fever outbreaks upon the Ministry of Health's mobilization.

8. Other units under the Ministry within their assigned functions and tasks shall be responsible for: Cooperating with related units in organizing dengue fever prevention and control when required.

9. This directive takes effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette and replaces Directive No. 03/2004/CT-BYT dated March 24, 2004, of the Minister of Health on strengthening dengue fever prevention and control work.

Upon receipt of this directive, heads of units under the Ministry, Directors of Health Departments of provinces and centrally governed cities, and heads of health sectors must immediately implement it and report results to the Ministry of Health (Department of Preventive Medicine of Vietnam)./