Health news update November 26th: Ministry of Health demands thorough handling of diphtheria outbreak.
According to a document from the Department of Preventive Medicine , information from the event-based surveillance system in Cao Bang (Bao Lam district) has recorded a death due to diphtheria.
The Ministry of Health demands thorough handling of the diphtheria outbreak.
To proactively prevent and control diphtheria, and to prevent its spread and outbreak, the Department of Preventive Medicine respectfully requests the Cao Bang Provincial Department of Health and the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology to direct relevant units and localities to urgently strengthen the review of close contacts with diphtheria patients; monitor and detect suspected cases early in outbreak areas and in the community;
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| Health authorities are testing people for diphtheria. |
Timely testing and sampling to identify cases; organize investigations, closely monitor and provide prophylactic antibiotic treatment for all close contacts; carry out disinfection and environmental treatment of outbreak sites and implement thorough outbreak control measures according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health.
At the same time, review cases of individuals who have not been vaccinated or have not been fully vaccinated against diphtheria in the area; organize supplementary and catch-up vaccinations, prioritizing outbreak areas, neighboring areas, and localities with low vaccination rates.
Ensure effective patient admission, emergency care, triage, and treatment referral; minimize fatalities; strictly implement infection control and prevent cross-infection at medical examination and treatment facilities; and require healthcare workers to fully implement personal protective measures to prevent infection during contact with patients.
The Department of Preventive Medicine also requested that the above units strengthen communication about diphtheria so that people can proactively implement preventive measures; organize close monitoring of the health of children and students in schools; regularly clean and ventilate classrooms and promptly notify health facilities when suspected cases are detected so that they can be thoroughly handled and prevent outbreaks.
Review and ensure the logistical support for vaccines, prophylactic antibiotics, antitoxin serum, chemicals, etc., to carry out epidemic control tasks; allocate funds and mobilize resources to support logistical support for epidemic control.
Mobilize manpower to support areas affected by the epidemic, deploy mobile epidemic control teams and mobile emergency medical teams to assist localities in implementing disease prevention and control measures.
Organize training for healthcare workers on disease surveillance, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, emergency care, patient care, infection control, and organize inspection, monitoring, and guidance teams at outbreak sites and areas at risk of disease outbreaks.
At the same time, strictly implement the timely and complete reporting of cases of illness, suspected cases of illness, and outbreaks on the Infectious Disease Surveillance and Management System as prescribed in Circular No. 54/2015/TT-BYT dated December 28, 2015, of the Ministry of Health on guiding the reporting and declaration regime for infectious diseases and epidemics.
The Department of Preventive Medicine requested the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology to closely monitor the disease situation and send a working group to direct, guide, and support localities in implementing disease prevention and control measures.
Thanh Hoa province launches vaccination campaign to prevent and control measles outbreak.
Given the widespread and severe outbreak of measles in several localities, the health sector of Thanh Hoa province has intensified the implementation of measles prevention and control measures.
According to information from the Thanh Hoa Provincial Center for Disease Control (CDC), from the beginning of 2024 to the present, five measles outbreaks have occurred in the province, specifically in Sam Son City, Thuong Xuan District, and Nong Cong District, with a total of 572 cases. Currently, the outbreaks have been brought under control and no new cases have been recorded.
As soon as information about a confirmed or suspected case was received, the Thanh Hoa CDC implemented a comprehensive set of measles surveillance and prevention activities.
Local health centers in areas with reported cases have been instructed to conduct investigations, verify information, carry out epidemiological investigations, cordon off affected areas, contain outbreaks, and manage the situation on-site. Simultaneously, the CDC is assessing and reviewing measles vaccination rates, and developing plans for catch-up and supplementary vaccinations for those who have not received a full course of vaccinations.
Given the complex situation of the measles outbreak, the Ministry of Health has allocated 38,180 doses of Measles-Rubella vaccine (MR vaccine) to Thanh Hoa province to implement the measles vaccination campaign in 2024.
Since the end of September 2024, Thanh Hoa province has received and distributed nearly 30,000 doses of the aforementioned vaccine to localities, aiming to vaccinate children aged 1-5 who have not received the required two doses of measles vaccine. Currently, the 1-5 year old group throughout the province has completed vaccination. Vaccination is currently being implemented in eight localities for children aged 6-10. Local authorities are continuing to review, investigate, and compile lists of children in this age group who have not received the full measles vaccine dose in order to organize timely vaccination.
Nearly 29,000 children are expected to need vaccinations in this round; however, the CDC only has just over 8,000 doses of vaccine remaining in its inventory to meet the demand.
In addition, the review and implementation of measles-rubella vaccination for children aged 6-10 who have not received both doses of the measles component vaccine has been carried out. Catch-up vaccinations have been organized for children aged 1-5 who have not received both doses of the measles vaccine. To date, the vaccination rate has reached 93% for both target groups.
According to a representative from the Thanh Hoa CDC, the current peak of the epidemic is not only occurring in Thanh Hoa but is also spreading nationwide. In Thanh Hoa, five outbreaks have been recorded, with the most recent one in Nong Cong district ending after 14 days, with no new cases since the last patient was detected. The locality has received 38,180 doses of vaccine to vaccinate children aged 1-5 and 6-10 years.
Previously, as soon as information about measles cases was received, the CDC held a meeting to assess the situation and reported to the Department of Health to establish a task force to coordinate with local health centers where the cases occurred. We implemented a comprehensive set of surveillance and prevention activities, directing health centers to conduct investigations, verify information, conduct epidemiological investigations, and isolate, contain, and handle the situation locally.
Simultaneously, assess and review the vaccination rates for measles vaccines in localities to develop catch-up vaccination plans, organize training on monitoring and treatment for lower-level units, and compile and report daily disease statistics as required.
Currently, the measles situation in Thanh Hoa is under strict control, with no new outbreaks reported. Screening and vaccination efforts are being actively implemented, ensuring they are carried out according to plan.
The dengue fever outbreak in Hai Phong is showing a downward trend.
In week 46, the number of dengue fever cases in Hai Phong showed a downward trend. Accordingly, the city and the health sector continued to monitor and simultaneously implement disease prevention and control measures to minimize the spread of the disease and protect public health.
According to a report from the Hai Phong City Center for Disease Control, in week 46 (November 11th to 17th, 2024), the dengue fever situation in Hai Phong showed positive signs with a significant decrease in the number of cases compared to the previous week. Specifically, the city recorded 357 new cases, a decrease of 12.7% compared to week 45 (409 cases). Notably, no deaths were recorded.
Since the beginning of the year, Hai Phong has recorded 21,192 cases of dengue fever, a 15.1-fold increase compared to the same period in 2023 (1,320 cases). In the past week, the districts with the highest number of cases were Le Chan (126 cases), Ngo Quyen (105 cases), Hai An (36 cases), Cat Hai (22 cases), and Kien An (15 cases).
Along with the decrease in new cases, the number of outbreaks is also trending downward. Last week, 49 new outbreaks were detected, bringing the total number of outbreaks since the beginning of the year to 2,795, of which 115 are active. However, 2,680 outbreaks have ceased activity to date. The districts with the highest number of active outbreaks are Ngo Quyen (20 outbreaks), An Duong (18 outbreaks), and Thuy Nguyen (14 outbreaks).
In response to this situation, Hai Phong continues to implement a series of strong measures to control the outbreak. Authorities are carrying out campaigns to eliminate mosquito larvae and pupae and clean the environment in 73 communes/wards across 9 districts/counties. Mosquito-killing chemicals are also being sprayed in 21 communes/wards, covering a total of 45 locations and involving 219 households.
Vector surveillance, serological testing, and thorough outbreak control activities were implemented in a coordinated manner. In particular, communication efforts were intensified through loudspeakers in wards/communes, helping to raise awareness of disease prevention in the community.
Although the number of cases has decreased, the risk of an outbreak remains due to the high number of cases accumulated since the beginning of the year. In the coming period, Hai Phong will continue to strengthen surveillance to detect cases early in the community and thoroughly handle outbreaks.
Environmental sanitation campaigns, mosquito larva eradication, and waste collection will be implemented more vigorously to reduce the density of disease-carrying mosquitoes. In addition, public awareness campaigns will continue to be intensified to encourage people to proactively protect their health.
According to the Hai Phong health sector, the dengue fever situation in Hai Phong is showing positive changes, but close coordination between the government and the people is still needed to control it thoroughly. The city also encourages people to proactively implement preventive measures, contributing to protecting public health.
![[Photo] Standing Committee member of the Party Central Committee Tran Cam Tu working with the Central Inspection Committee](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/05/28/1779969579668_ndo_br_bnd-2495-jpg.webp)
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