The MoH on November 24 cautioned the number of cases rises each October as hot humid weather attracts fleas, which transmit the disease from rats and animals to humans.

The MoH’s request for localities to intensify inspection of wild animals and rodents for fleas comes in the aftermath of an outbreak of the plague in Madagascar, which has killed 40 people in the past three months.

Dr. Tran Dac Phu, Head of the MoH’s Preventive Medicine Department, says although no plague outbreaks have been reported in Vietnam for the past 12 years, the country is still at high risk.

There have not been any major outbreaks of the disease reported in Vietnam since August 2002, Phu added.

The MoH has urged municipal and provincial health departments to coordinate with relevant agencies to strictly monitor animals and immigrants coming into Vietnam, particularly those from plague-hit areas.

The Madagascar Health Ministry has declared a plague epidemic in the African country, which has resulted in 40 deaths and 119 infections.

Earlier, the US had confirmed four infection cases of plague in the State of Colorado, while a fatal patient has also been reported in China.