Chickenpox cases among children soar

A SPIKE in chickenpox infections, especially among children, has been reported in the northern provinces of the country, Vietnam News reported.

Authorities in the capital city of Hanoi recorded 548 people infected with the chickenpox virus so far this year in 18 out of 30 districts.

The virus mostly spread among children, with 36% of the contracted cases found among kindergarteners, and 38% among primary school pupils.

The mountainous province of Lao Cai, located about 300km to the northwest of Hanoi, also recorded nearly 400 cases of chickenpox since the beginning of the year.

The Bac Kan province recently reported an outbreak at a primary school with 30 cases.

While children have the highest rates of illness severe enough to require hospital care, infants are 30% more likely to die of dangerous complications, a rate much higher than in older children or adults, said Nguyen Thi Quynh Nga, deputy head of the Treatment and Special Care No.1 Ward under the National Paediatrics Hospital. — Xinhua