Hanoi has logged 548 new cases of chickenpox so far this year, with the most recent 70 infections recorded just this week, according to statistics from the Hanoi Center for Disease Control (CDC).

There have been no deaths linked to the ongoing outbreak.

Chickenpox is on the rise compared to last year, and many of the patients are preschool and elementary school students, which respectively account for 36.5 percent and 38 percent of the total infections.

So far, 18 out of Hanoi’s 30 districts have been affected by the outbreak, with Chuong My, Me Linh, Ba Vi, and Nam Tu Liem Districts having each detected over 30 cases.

In the outlying district of Chuong My, the local medical center had reported five clusters of 237 chickenpox cases as of March 21.

In Ho Chi Minh City, children's hospitals citywide said that they have recorded normal rates of hospital admissions and treatment linked to chickenpox.

However, as chickenpox cases tend to surge between February and June, parents should ensure their children are vaccinated and that their children’s play areas are kept clean. 

Chickenpox cases could continue their upward trend over the next several weeks as Hanoi eases into spring, according to the Hanoi CDC, which also stated that local citizens should be aware that other infectious respiratory diseases such as the flu, measles, and whooping cough typically spread during this time of year.

Chickenpox is a contagious disease caused by varicella-zoster virus and can affect people of all ages.

It is typically spread from person to person via direct contact. It can also be spread through saliva and daily practices, like sharing utensils.

It takes 7-21 days after exposure to the virus for someone to develop symptoms of chickenpox, which include a mild fever, runny nose, cough, headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, and an itchy red rash which covers the body with fluid-filled blisters.

Healthcare specialists advise chickenpox patients to take a bath as normal, regularly wash their hands with soap, refrain from sharing utensils with others, and keep their houses and workplaces clean.

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