Epidemic of influenza A H5 N1 virus in humans occurred in South Vietnam from 12/2003 up to now there were 287 suspected cases and 24 confirmed cases, included 20 deaths with case-fatality rate was very high (83.33%). Based on epidemical surveillance and laboratory, we believed that cases usually appear by the end of year and the beginning of the next year at the same time of the winter in North Vietnam, and the dry season in the South Vietnam. It was distributed sporadically in different regions, including highland, urban areas and rural areas of the Mekong delta. Almost of the confirmed cases were young (average 16,17 years old). The rate of ethnic patients with H5N1(+) were high 25%. There has been no evidence of human to human transmission, but there were some risk factors associated with the confirmed cases were: contact directly with the sick/dead poultry (OR=3.39; p=0.034), eating the sick/dead poultry (OR=4.28; p= 0.025), person in family prepared chicken that was sick and died for cooking (OR=5.2; p=0.01).
Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; Viruses ; Epidemiology

A descriptive prospective study of hospitalized Dengue including Dengue Fever (OF) and Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) was undertaken in An Giang General Hospital. An Giang Province from April 2002 to May 2003. A first blood sample (BS) will be taken on admission to detect dengue antibody by Elisa (IgM and IgG) and virus isolation. The second BS will be drawn on discharge with the same test. If the patient is discharged before day 10th after the onset of fever, a third BS will be planned, for IgM and IgG too. In the hospital, all patients will be follow-up adequate platelet count and haematocrit. - There is 1009 patient selected (less than 15 years old), 5 DHF deaths due to DHF and 4 deaths due to others. Classification of the Dengue hospitalized cases: DF (28. 5%), DHF (49%) and DSS (10%). - The highest positive IgM rate is belong to DSS patient group (89%) and then DHF, the lowest rate is DF (34%). The virus isolated rate of the DSS patient group is highest (16.8%), and then DF (14.6%). DEN2 is predominant (with 84% of all virus isolated), and then DEN4 (8.8%). - On the admission, there are the overload for Dengue diagnosis. 12% cases with DF/DHF on the admission but they are typhoid fever, measles and viral infection on the discharge. - Clinical and laboratory findings are the more severe (thrombocytopenia and haemoconcentration), the more positive IgM rate and virus isolated. - For the correspondences between DF, DHF diagnosis. Clinical and laboratory findings according to WHO criteria: there are only 22.2% of DHF satisfied 4/4 WHO criteria, 39.2% satisfied 3/4 criteria and ultrasound is the test supported for these DF, DHF cases. - 71% confirmed DHF cases and 26% confirmed DSS cases have not thrombocytopenia and haemoconcentration. - The haemorrhagic manifestation just appear in 46.6% of DHF cases, even if DSS cases, there are only 56.2% cases have got the haemorrhagic manifestations.
Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever ; Dengue ; Diagnosis

The study about using water sources in diet in community was performed at 3 provinces of Mekong Delta in January 2002. The total number of investigated households were 1639, the samples were collected by investigating 30 groups method. The investigating about major water source using diet showed that on average, about 70% (35-92%) of households used river water, 17.6% (2.0-48%) used tap water and 10.8% (0-20.8%) used rain water. 40% of points used the river water to supply water with community, far latrine-fishpond from 10m, 26% was closed cattle-breeding cage (under 10m). The river water-processing method was alum accumulation, the pasteurization rate without chloramine was nearly 80% and about 20% of households used non-boiled drinking-water. The rate of households used boring well was very low (2-4%), 10% of households entered using processed river water because they were very poor
Water ; epidemiology ; diet ; Alum Compounds ; Chloramines

A new pilot model - community based campaign for source reduction was implemented in Hoa Loc commune (Mo Cay district, Ben Tre province). Fives campaigns were carried out during rainy season in the year 2002 with strong participation of local authorities, school and other social unions. Fives steps of campaign model included (1) Organizing; (2) Training; (3) Communicating before campaign; (4) Launching campaign; (5) Monitoring and assessing. Results: The entomological index in the implemented communes was lower than communes having participants. A model - community based campaign for source reduction was effective and feasible, at the same time having long effectiveness after 3-4 folds/year
Larva ; Health Promotion ; epidemiology

A community based campaign for larvae reduction was organized in 3 communes Hoa Loc, An Thoi, Tan Trung of Mo Cay district, Ben Tre province in 2002. The results: the model of campaign expressed clearly the effectiveness and feasibility in larvae and mosquitos density’ reduction immediately after implementing. Furthermore, launching three to four campaigns times per year can maintain its effectiveness in long time. To gain the most effectiveness, all methods were urged implementing for changes in people’s behaviours and close combination between government, health training communication and regulations
Larva ; Epidemiology

After one year study in Hung Ha district (Thai Binh province) and Cai Lay district (Tien Giang province) from November 1997 to October 1998, the experimental active surveillance system was successfully established in both organizational and technical aspects at the study sites. It is proved that establishing the active surveillance system is necessary and useful in terms of controlling effectively outbreak of communicable diseases. It provides the accurate, complete, and punctual data, so that the epidemic control will be performed timely and effectively. This active surveillance system should be expanded to the other sites
Communicable Diseases ; epidemiology

A sentinel surveillance system for communicable diseases, was implemented in Hung Ha district (Thai Binh province) and Cai Lay district (Tien Giang province), by strengthening the existing routine surveillance system: improvement of microbiological investigation and introduction of computerized reporting and information system.
Communicable Diseases ; Nitriles

A K.A.P. survey on dengue heamorrhagis fever (DHF) was carried out in 6 sentinel provinces (An Giang, Kien Giang, Ca Mau, HCM city, Dong Nai, Can Tho) of program for control of DHF of Southern region at the end of the year 1998. One district was selected in each province. 30 random clusters with sample size of 2000 households were applied for each district. The results: most of households heads (91%) have heard about DHF, by T.V. (62%). Continuous high fever for 2 days was a common symptom of DHF. The first health facilities for seeking DHF treatment were communal health stations (32%), and private clinic (25%). 74% of subjects understood that DHF was transmitted by mosquito. Larval habitant were considered as clean water container without cover (60%) and solid waste containers (used tires, tin, can…) by 15%. Subject prefer to cover water containers (34%), to clean water containers (25%), to destroy waster containers (14%), to put larvicid fishes into water containers (11%), to spray (50%).
Dengue ; epidemiology

A retrospective study of death cases due to dengue haemorrhagic fever in 19 provinces of Southern Viet Nam in 2000 showed that: most of the death cases were under 15 years of age (93%), mainly children 5-9 years; 81.6% of these cases were in South-West provinces. Almost of death cases were due to the late hospitalization (3-4 days after the onset of disease). The death cases occurred on the first 24 hours and on 3rd-6th day of hospitalization were accounted for 58.1% and 93% respectively. Most of death cases occurred in province hospitals (58.1%) and district hospitals (37.2%).
Dengue ; epidemiology ; death

The authors conducted a retrospective study of deaths caused by DF/DHF in Southern Vietnam in 1999. The results showed that most of deaths (92.5%) are under 15 years of age peaking with the age group 5-9 years; 79.2% of them live in the region of Mekong delta. Several cases were transferred to hospital 3 or 4 days after the onset of illness; 45% of all deaths occur during the first 24 hours of hospitalization; 64.4% of them come from provincial hospital and 20.8% come from district hospitals.
Dengue ; epidemiology ; death