Communities across the Mekong region face heightened seasonal threats from dengue and hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) amid changing rainfall patterns and soaring temperatures.
Health authorities in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam are raising alerts as the diseases become a serious public health threat, especially among children.
Vietnam’s Health Ministry revealed that 100,000 cases of HFMD have been reported so far this year, with 3,000 cases registered weekly. The number is 2.5 times higher than during the same period last year.
In neighbouring Laos, health officials recorded 4,371 dengue cases nationwide as of Aug 24.
Cambodia, meanwhile, is also confronting a heavy dengue burden.
Health authorities are also warning of rising cases of dengue and HFMD.
According to the World Health Organisation, 54,697 dengue cases, including 72 deaths, have been reported as of Aug 2. — Bernama
