In Dong Thap province over 2,350 people have been struck by the disease and hospitalized.

The disease has spread to most districts in the province, with Thanh Binh the worst affected with 380 patients, 16 times more than last year.

Kien Giang province has reported over 1,800 cases, An Giang 1,190, Ben Tre 860, Can Tho 498, and Tra Vinh 144.

Dengue has affected not only the south but has, in fact, been raging across the country with 15,000 people infected so far, 10 percent more than last year.

Twelve people have died.

There is, typically, a major breakout in Vietnam every three to five years, with the worst one in recent times occurring in 1998 when 300,000 people were infected and 480 died.

The southern region usually accounts for 85 percent of the cases because of its hot weather and heavy rainfall.

Reported by Thanh Dung, Thanh Thien – Translated by Minh Phat