Gov’t urges localities to closely monitor diphtheria

In an official telegram dated July 13, the Government chief tasked the Minister of Health to direct and guide the implementation of measures to prevent and control diphtheria; speed up vaccination progress and organize training to enhance capabilities in monitoring, diagnosing, and treating the disease.

The Minister of Education and Training was assigned to ensure clean and well-ventilated environments, organize health monitoring for children and students, and promptly notify healthcare facilities upon suspicion of disease for timely quarantine and treatment.

Local leaders were asked to encourage people to follow health recommendations from the health sector, and guide people to go to healthcare facilities immediately if they show symptoms of the disease.

Earlier, 134 people in the central Nghe An and northern Bac Giang provinces were quarantined for being in close contact with two diphtheria patients, one of whom has died.

Diphtheria is a contagious airborne disease with an incubation period of around two weeks after which an infected person can spread it.

Symptoms include a sore throat, gray or white patches in the throat, severe breathing and swallowing difficulties, myocarditis, paralysis, and, very often, death. Diphtheria is transmitted through the respiratory tract.

Viet Nam's national vaccination program immunizes people against diphtheria. There are vaccines against diphtheria, as well as antibiotics for treatment. Children can be vaccinated, but immunity will wane off over time, and booster shots are needed every 5-10 years./.