Diseases that often occured during the summer were threatening to break out in Ha Noi, said health experts at a conference on disease prevention and control, food safety and hygiene on Thursday.

More than 1,150 people have contracted chicken pox so far this year, an increase of 37 per cent compared with the same period last year.

The city did not experience any cases of rabies in the past two years, but this year, two people have died from the disease in the districts of Chuong My and Soc Son.

Over 1,600 measles cases have been reported, and more than 4,700 other patients have been diagnosed with scarlet fever. Fourteen patients have died from measles and 63 from measles-related illnesses.

At present, 13 measles patients are in a critical condition in central hospitals.

Deputy chairman of the Ha Noi People's Committee, Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, has asked agencies to conduct disease prevention measures by informing residents about hygiene.

The city launched a campaign to give measles vaccinations to children between 2 and 10 years old on Monday which will run for a week.

The Ministry of Health has sent an urgent document asking hospitals and health departments to increase health checks and treatment quality to prevent and control diseases caused by the hot weather.

Directors of hospitals and health departments were asked to inform residents how to prevent diseases in hot weather such as sunstroke, dehydration, heart disease, strokes and food poisoning.

This work should focus on vulnerable people including old people, pregnant women, workers and farmers who work in the sun.

Hospitals also need to provide fans and drinking water for patients, while ensuring enough medicine, beds and other equipment to provide first aid.

Any unusual problems related to diseases must be reported to the Ministry of Health.

The hot spell hit the city the last few days with temperatures of 35-38 degree Celsius. The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecast said temperatures would ease by next Tuesday.

VNS/VNN