Encephalitis spread reported in northern Vietnam

HANOI, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's northern region is witnessing spread of Japanese encephalitis disease, the Department of Preventive Medicine under Vietnam's Ministry of Health said on Wednesday.

Infected cases of the disease have been recorded in the capital of Hanoi, northern Bac Giang, Dien Bien, Son La, Thai Binh, Lao Cai provinces, northern Hai Phong city and central Thanh Hoa province, Nguyen Dac Phu, director of the Department was quoted by Vietnam News as saying.

Since the beginning of 2016, Hanoi has recorded two deaths related to Japanese encephalitis.

Prolonged hot weather is creating favorable conditions for mosquito breeding and is leading to a high risk of spreading the disease, Phu said.

Japanese encephalitis is a mosquito-borne disease and can often be fatal if not diagnosed.