Vietnam Central Province Reports Second Positive Case of Diphtheria

The Department of Health of the mountainous Phuoc Loc Commune in the central province of Quang Nam has just confirmed the second positive case of diphtheria this week. The case was announced after the department received the results from three medical samples from Nha Trang Pasteur Institute. According to the provincial department, ten people were found with classic diphtheria symptoms and are being treated at medical center. The institute had tested seven out of ten medical samples that were sent to Nha Trang two weeks ago and finally released the three remaining samples on July 21 night. Three people, who were believed to have the disease, had died. But two medical samples of the dead ones tested negative for diphtheria. In addition, only one patient tested positive for diphtheria among the first seven medical samples of patients sent to Nha Trang Institute. Last week, the department updated that 13 people in villages 8A and 8B in the commune reportedly had fever, ganglion inflammations and difficulty in eating and drinking, all being symptoms related to diphtheria. Villages 8A and 8B have 224 ethnic Mo Nong people. Director of the provincial heath department emphasized that this is the second case among 13 patients being treated for diphtheria and no new case has been detected since July 9. The Vietnamese Preventive Healthcare Department under the Ministry of Health (MoH) are taking various actions to contain the outbreak of the disease. The provincial authorities have quarantined the area and carried out disinfection procedures. Meanwhile, the local Health Department has been carrying out vaccination program for all people living in the area. (Vietnamnews.vn July 22)