The Ministry of Health will set up five teams to oversee efforts to prevent outbreaks of hand-foot-mouth disease in some provinces, Tran Dac Phu, head of its Preventive Health Department, said on Monday.
The teams will tour Ho Chi Minh City, the southern provinces of Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Ca Mau, and the Central Highlands provinces of Kon Tum and Dak Lak, which have reported an increasing number of cases.
According to the ministry’s statistics, more than 17,410 cases have been reported around the country this year, including two deaths in Ba Ria- Vung Tau and Long An provinces.
The number of cases and fatalities are down by 20 percent and five cases this year.
The southern region has accounted for 83.5 percent of the cases.
The ministry has warned people to wash their hands regularly, especially before cooking, feeding children, and after using the toilet. They should not let children put toys in their mouth or share handkerchiefs, glasses, dishes, or spoons, it said.
Sick children have to be isolated for 10 days to avoid transmitting the disease to others, it said.
The ministry also said there were over 4,030 cases of measles this year.
After authorities distributed vaccines to provinces and cities around the country, the vaccination rate has topped 85.3 percent, with 18 provinces reporting a 95 percent rate.
