DENGUE IN VIETNAM
Dengue has been a major health and economic burden for Viet Nam since the first occurrence of severe dengue cases in the Mekong Delta region in the early 1960s. It occurs throughout the year, but with peak transmission in the warmer rainy season, generally April through October in the north and June through December in the south.
The risk of infection is higher in the Red River and Mekong Deltas, as well as in the coastal districts and provincial capitals of central Viet Nam. Although dengue can occur in all provinces, the majority of cases and most deaths occur in the central and southern regions of the country, where it is mainly children and the young adult population who are affected.
Viet Nam has a comprehensive and highly successful dengue control programme, and has an excellent record in controlling dengue mortality below 1 per 1,000 hospitalized cases since 2005. However, the number of affected individuals continues to increase, with estimates of dengue morbidity per 100,000 population of 120 in 2009 (105,370 cases) rising to 194 in 2017 (184,000 cases).
There is no licensed vaccine for dengue in Viet Nam at this time.
