Identification of Contingents at Risk of Natural Focal Diseases in Vietnam Using a Questionnaire-Based Survey

Abstract

Introduction: Natural focal and zoonotic diseases are widespread in the Asia-Pacific Region, including Vietnam, due to climatic conditions, peculiarities of cultural and economic interactions. Objective: To determine groups of population at risk of rodent and their ectoparasites-borne diseases in different landscape and socio-economic areas of Vietnam. Materials and methods: We conducted a questionnaire-based survey of 449 rural residents from eight provinces in the north and central part of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The answers were analyzed using statistical and epidemiological methods. Results: We have established that 346 respondents (77.1 %) come into contact with rodents, and five times more often this contact occurs in residential premises. A small number of the respondents reports flea (2.9 %) and tick (7.6 %) attacks. Only 30.7 % of the respondents (n = 138) know that contact with rodents can lead to disease, 69.3 % (n = 311) have heard about it for the first time. At the same time, 69.7 % of residents carry out rat control activities using various means while 30.3 % do nothing in this respect. If signs of a disease appear, 81.7 % of the respondents report seeking medical care, 9.4 % do that rarely, and 8.9 % have never sought medical attention. Conclusions: Given the abundance of the main carriers and vectors of natural focal diseases, frequent direct contact of people with potentially infected rodents, poor alertness and awareness of the population, there is a high risk of infestation in case of an epizooty in the surveyed provinces. The most effective and affordable preventive tool is a targeted community outreach program.