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 case-control study was realized at children hospital No 1 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in order to identify the risk factors of diarrhoeal infants under 3 years of age. The cases were hospitalized with persistent diarrhoeal diagnosis according to World Health Organization standards. The controls were hospitalized cases without any diarrhoeal symptoms, being the same age and admitted to hospital at the same time as the case. The sample size was 140 cases and 164 controls. At the moment of inclusion, all the subjects were interviewed, examined and all the information about them were recorded in questionnaire forms by the well trained doctors. Epi info package was used for invariable analysis and Egret for multiple logistic regression, 37 factors were studied, but at the end of the analysis, only 6 factors were associated significantly with persistent diarrhea
Diarrhea ; Child ; Risk factors

42 volunteers and 182 households were collected randomly. The results: 49% of households were visited monthly and 41% have had correct knowledge on DF/DHF but almost of them have known larvae and mosquito as the disease vector. 33% of volunteer households had larvae in water containers, while this rate was 42% in inhabitant households. Water containers are now concretely closed in about 60% of the households, and water is regularly renewed in 70% of them. Close cooperation between local authorities, schools and volunteers should be maintained in order to improve the results of these activities
Dengue ; therapeutics

A model of close cooperation between local administration, schools and health services in steering the preventive activities proved to be suitable and applicable. Regular visits to households were made by volunteers who checked water containers, sewage and provided health education to the community. A one year of survey after the intervention showed that: 87% of the interviewed people in this area had reasonable knowledge on DHF and DHF prevention, and 80% of the households used mesocyclops. Breteau index and mosquito density index decreased considerably
Dengue ; therapeutics ; Copepoda