Out of the total number infected, 8 have died, twice as many as in the same period last year.

Now every week hospitals in HCM City receive about 300 people infected with petechial fever, mainly in the districts of Thu Duc, Binh Tan, No 8, Tan Phu, Tan Binh and Cu Chi.

The municipal healthcare department has warned that the number of people contracting petechial fever may increase by 500 per week in the next 3 months.

The city also acknowledges 70 new cases each week of children infected with hand-foot-and-mouth disease and this number may increase sharply if strong preventive measures are not taken.