On August 11, Thanh Hoa Province announced an outbreak of diphtheria in Muong Lat Town due to the assessment of a dangerous infectious disease after three positive cases and 34 close contacts (F1).
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According to the local health authorities, diphtheria is caused by the diphtheria bacteria, classified as a Group B dangerous infectious disease. The disease is transmitted through respiratory droplets from person to person and can also spread through contact with objects contaminated with the diphtheria bacteria’s secretions.
This is the first local outbreak of diphtheria in many years, aiming to implement various measures to prevent the spread of the disease in the community. The Doan Ket neighborhood in Muong Lat Town, Muong Lat District, currently reports a chain of infection with three positive cases and 34 F1 contacts, with a risk of more infections.
The provincial People's Committee Chairman has instructed healthcare facilities at all levels to promptly receive, isolate, and treat patients. The local government is carrying out urgent epidemic prevention measures such as emergency treatment, medical isolation, and disinfecting the outbreak area.
The Director of the Department of Health and the Chairman of Muong Lat District People's Committee are required to immediately implement disease prevention measures, closely monitor the situation, enhance environmental sanitation, and prevent the emergence of new outbreak clusters.
On August 5, the Thanh Hoa Center for Disease Control (CDC) identified the first diphtheria case in a 17-year-old pregnant woman. Three days later, a 10-year-old boy and a 74-year-old elderly woman, who are relatives of the pregnant woman, also tested positive. The three patients are being treated at the Central Tropical Diseases Hospital, Thanh Hoa General Hospital, and Thanh Hoa Children's Hospital, and their health is stable with good signs of recovery. Close contacts (F1) have been isolated and are being monitored at home.
This is the first diphtheria outbreak of the year in Thanh Hoa Province. Authorities have not yet identified the source of infection for the pregnant woman, making the diphtheria situation in the Doan Ket neighborhood complex. Additionally, recent vaccination coverage in Muong Lat has not met requirements due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the shortage of diphtheria vaccines.
Over the past week, in addition to disinfection, isolation, and outbreak monitoring, Thanh Hoa's health sector has administered preventive antibiotics to nearly 800 people and involved over 200 people in disease prevention efforts. The Muong Lat District People's Committee is proposing to provide an additional 25,000 doses of diphtheria-tetanus (Td) vaccine to vaccinate high-risk and at-risk groups in Muong Lat Town and three adjacent communes.
On August 11, after a direct inspection of the Doan Ket neighborhood, Thanh Hoa Province Vice Chairman Dau Thanh Tung urged Muong Lat District authorities to remain vigilant and continue implementing stringent disease prevention measures. The health sector is also evaluating the diphtheria risk in communes and towns to prepare appropriate response plans.
In July, the Ministry of Health advised that diphtheria has not been eliminated in the country, and people can still contract the disease if they have not been vaccinated and come into contact with the pathogen. Since the beginning of the year, the country has recorded five diphtheria cases, including one death—a 18-year-old female student in Nghe An.
Diphtheria is a dangerous infectious disease with the potential to cause outbreaks, transmitted directly from infected individuals to healthy ones through respiratory routes or intermediaries. The incubation period is about two weeks before the disease becomes transmissible to others. The primary symptoms include sore throat with a white pseudomembrane formed by inflammatory cells adhering to the throat.
According to the local health authorities, diphtheria is caused by the diphtheria bacteria, classified as a Group B dangerous infectious disease. The disease is transmitted through respiratory droplets from person to person and can also spread through contact with objects contaminated with the diphtheria bacteria’s secretions.
This is the first local outbreak of diphtheria in many years, aiming to implement various measures to prevent the spread of the disease in the community. The Doan Ket neighborhood in Muong Lat Town, Muong Lat District, currently reports a chain of infection with three positive cases and 34 F1 contacts, with a risk of more infections.
The provincial People's Committee Chairman has instructed healthcare facilities at all levels to promptly receive, isolate, and treat patients. The local government is carrying out urgent epidemic prevention measures such as emergency treatment, medical isolation, and disinfecting the outbreak area.
The Director of the Department of Health and the Chairman of Muong Lat District People's Committee are required to immediately implement disease prevention measures, closely monitor the situation, enhance environmental sanitation, and prevent the emergence of new outbreak clusters.
On August 5, the Thanh Hoa Center for Disease Control (CDC) identified the first diphtheria case in a 17-year-old pregnant woman. Three days later, a 10-year-old boy and a 74-year-old elderly woman, who are relatives of the pregnant woman, also tested positive. The three patients are being treated at the Central Tropical Diseases Hospital, Thanh Hoa General Hospital, and Thanh Hoa Children's Hospital, and their health is stable with good signs of recovery. Close contacts (F1) have been isolated and are being monitored at home.
This is the first diphtheria outbreak of the year in Thanh Hoa Province. Authorities have not yet identified the source of infection for the pregnant woman, making the diphtheria situation in the Doan Ket neighborhood complex. Additionally, recent vaccination coverage in Muong Lat has not met requirements due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the shortage of diphtheria vaccines.
Over the past week, in addition to disinfection, isolation, and outbreak monitoring, Thanh Hoa's health sector has administered preventive antibiotics to nearly 800 people and involved over 200 people in disease prevention efforts. The Muong Lat District People's Committee is proposing to provide an additional 25,000 doses of diphtheria-tetanus (Td) vaccine to vaccinate high-risk and at-risk groups in Muong Lat Town and three adjacent communes.
On August 11, after a direct inspection of the Doan Ket neighborhood, Thanh Hoa Province Vice Chairman Dau Thanh Tung urged Muong Lat District authorities to remain vigilant and continue implementing stringent disease prevention measures. The health sector is also evaluating the diphtheria risk in communes and towns to prepare appropriate response plans.
In July, the Ministry of Health advised that diphtheria has not been eliminated in the country, and people can still contract the disease if they have not been vaccinated and come into contact with the pathogen. Since the beginning of the year, the country has recorded five diphtheria cases, including one death—a 18-year-old female student in Nghe An.
Diphtheria is a dangerous infectious disease with the potential to cause outbreaks, transmitted directly from infected individuals to healthy ones through respiratory routes or intermediaries. The incubation period is about two weeks before the disease becomes transmissible to others. The primary symptoms include sore throat with a white pseudomembrane formed by inflammatory cells adhering to the throat.
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