Accordingly, all confirmed and suspected cases are in Meo Vac district, concentrated in 8 communes and towns, the most being Khau Vai commune with 14 cases.
Currently, the patients are being treated at Meo Vac District General Hospital. Some were hospitalized with mild fever, dry cough, sore throat, painful swallowing, fatigue, poor appetite, and pseudomembranes.
Doctors take samples of suspected patients for testing. (Photo: CDC Ha Giang).
Regarding the death case, the Ha Giang Department of Health said that the boy was VMD, 15 years old, who was admitted to Meo Vac District General Hospital on August 21. Just one day later, the patient had to be transferred to the provincial hospital. Due to the severe progression of the disease, the patient died on the way home from the hospital before testing positive for diphtheria.
The second death was a female, named GTS, 16 years old, from Giang Chu Phin commune. Ms. S. was taken to Meo Vac District General Hospital on August 25 and had her sample taken. Three days later, the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology returned the results that she was negative for diphtheria. By the afternoon of August 28, this patient died.
Since 2004, this locality has not recorded any cases of diphtheria. Therefore, immediately after the first death, a 15-year-old boy in Meo Vac district on August 21, the health sector sprayed disinfectants, sterilized, screened, quarantined, and took samples for testing of close contacts.
Currently, the source of infection and the cause of diphtheria in the area have not been determined. Experts from the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and the National Children's Hospital have provided support for epidemic prevention, especially in treating severe cases.
According to the Ha Giang Department of Health, the epidemic situation is relatively complicated, with the risk of spreading, especially in the context of preparing for the new school year. However, the province is lacking diphtheria vaccines, so it has requested the Ministry of Health to soon support vaccines as well as diphtheria antitoxin serum to treat severe cases.
The Department of Preventive Medicine recommends that people should take their children to get the combined diphtheria vaccine fully and on schedule. Wash your hands regularly with soap; cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing; keep your body, nose, and throat clean every day; limit contact with people who are sick or suspected of being sick. Make sure your home, nursery, and classroom are airy, clean, and have enough light.
Le Trang
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