Many infectious diseases at the same time in Ho Chi Minh City
In Ho Chi Minh City, many infectious diseases are circulating such as dengue fever, measles, hand, foot and mouth disease. Some diseases tend to decrease, but some diseases increase.
The latest statistics of Children's Hospital 1 said that the number of measles cases tends to decrease. In the first 3 months of 2025, the hospital had 1,250 cases of inpatient treatment measles, of which, 473 cases in Ho Chi Minh City and 1,047 cases in the province and city neighboring Ho Chi Minh City. The situation of dengue fever stable, higher than the same period in 2024, equivalent to an average of 5 years. Meanwhile, the number of cases of hand, foot and mouth disease increased, higher than the same period in 2024 and higher than 5 years average. In the first 3 months of 2025, 142 hand, foot and mouth disease was hospitalized.
At Thu Duc City Hospital, in the first 3 months of 2025, the unit recorded 132 examinations and 7 hospitalizations for hand, foot and mouth disease. This shows that the disease's progression is worrying.
MSc. Dr. Le Thi Hong Nga - Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control - said that in the city, the measles epidemic situation has been well controlled. However, children who have not been vaccinated against measles are still at risk of getting sick.
A worrying thing is that dengue fever and hand, foot and mouth disease are currently circulating in the city. According to monitoring in March, hand, foot and mouth disease tends to increase. This is the time of the season, and may continue to increase in the coming time.
According to statistics from the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control, in week 13 (24-30.3), Ho Chi Minh City recorded 319 cases of dengue fever, down 14.5% compared to the average of the previous 4 weeks. The city recorded 243 measles cases in the city, down 7.7% compared to the average of the previous 4 weeks.
Meanwhile, the city recorded 319 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease, an increase of 89.3% compared to the average of the previous 4 weeks. The total number of hand, foot and mouth disease cases accumulated from the beginning of 2025 to week 13 is 2,247 cases. Districts with cases over 100,000 people include: District 8, District 6 and Binh Tan.
No subjectivity, negligence
According to MSc. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Qui - Deputy Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital 2, in addition to focusing resources on treating children with measles, the unit is currently in charge of adding children with hand, foot and mouth disease. The department is divided into 2 separate quarantine areas for children with measles, hand, foot and mouth disease, dengue fever and other diseases.
The Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control recommends that people continue to take measures to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease and dengue fever according to the instructions of the health sector. Parents should fully vaccinate their children with 2 doses of measles vaccine according to the schedule to create immunity.
To prevent hand, foot and mouth disease, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health emphasizes the "3 clean" principle: Eat cleanly, stay clean, keep your hands and toys clean.
People need to wash their hands regularly with soap under running water, especially at the following times: Before cooking, before eating, feeding children, before stroking, after going to the toilet, changing diapers and doing baby hygiene.
Regularly clean toys, school supplies, door handles, stairs, desks, chairs, floors... with regular soap or detergent.
Ensure hygiene in eating and drinking, use clean water in daily life. Do not let children come into contact with people with or suspected of having the disease. When children show signs of doubt, they need to be taken to a medical facility promptly.
