Vietnam news: Bac Giang diphtheria, Dak Lak Japanese encephalitis and a Streptococcus suis meningitis case
Bac Giang
Health authorities in Bac Giang province report that 15 contacts in close contact with an 18-year-old female student with diphtheria in Hiep Hoa district have been quarantined and monitored.
On the afternoon of July 8, Bac Giang authorities identified close contacts of the patient in Hop Thinh, Mai Trung, Danh Thang and Thuong Thang communes. They were quarantined, had their health monitored, and had their samples taken for testing. Medical staff treated the group with antibiotics for 7 days and monitored their health for 14 days from the last close contact with the patient.
The female student is being treated at the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases.
The Bac Giang People's Committee also said that the girl had traveled to 4 karaoke bars in Hiep Hoa district (Bac Giang) and Trung Gia commune, Soc Son district (Hanoi).
Diphtheria is a serious infection caused by strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacteria that make a toxin. The toxin can cause people to get very sick. Diphtheria bacteria spread from person to person through respiratory droplets, like from coughing or sneezing. People can also get sick from touching open sores or ulcers of people sick with diphtheria.
When the bacteria get into the respiratory system, they can cause sore throat, mild fever, and swollen glands in the neck. The bacteria make a toxin that kills healthy tissues in the respiratory system and can make it difficult to breathe and swallow. The toxin can also cause heart, nerve, and kidney problems if it enters the bloodstream. Skin infections caused by C. diphtheriae typically consist of shallow ulcers (sores) and do not result in severe disease.
For some people, respiratory diphtheria can lead to death. Even with treatment, about 1 in 10 patients with respiratory diphtheria die. Without treatment, up to half of patients can die from the disease.
If you are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated against diphtheria and may have been exposed, it is important to start treatment as soon as possible.
The Department of Preventive Medicine recommends that people get their children vaccinated against diphtheria fully and on schedule. Wash your hands regularly with soap. Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing. Limit contact with sick or suspected sick people.
Dak Lak
Since the beginning of the year, Dak Lak province has recorded 2 cases of Japanese encephalitis.
According to the Dak Lak Provincial Center for Disease Control, the most recent case of Japanese encephalitis detected in the province is patient TVD, male, 52 years old, residing in Ea Kmut commune, Ea Kar district, Dak Lak province.
According to the patient's family, on June 19, the patient had symptoms of fever and fatigue. At home, he went to a private clinic and bought medicine but did not get better. On June 21, the family took the patient to the Central Highlands General Hospital for examination and treatment and was transferred to Cho Ray Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City for treatment with the diagnosis: Fever of unknown origin, monitoring for sepsis suspected to be from a central nervous system infection.
At Cho Ray Hospital, the patient tested positive for Japanese encephalitis. The patient is currently being treated at Cho Ray Hospital with a diagnosis of Japanese encephalitis with complications of coma, acute kidney injury, respiratory failure, epilepsy, and hypertension.
After receiving information about the patient with Japanese encephalitis, the Dak Lak Provincial Center for Disease Control quickly investigated and monitored the case. The results showed that in the past 3 weeks, the patient had not left the locality. The environment around the patient's house had ponds, stagnant water, near the house there were rice fields, and households around the patient's house raised cows and goats. Investigating the disease vector, the inspection team recorded the presence of Culex mosquitoes, the vector of Japanese encephalitis in the community.
To prevent the disease from spreading in the community, the Dak Lak Provincial Center for Disease Control quickly coordinated with the Ea Kar District Health Center and the Ea Kmut Commune Health Station to treat the environment around the patient's house; at the same time, step up education and recommendations for people to take proactive measures to prevent and control Japanese encephalitis.
Previously, on May 11, the Dak Lak Provincial Center for Disease Control also recorded a patient with Japanese encephalitis in Krong Jing commune, M'Drak district.
According to the patient's family, on April 18, the patient showed symptoms of high fever and fatigue. On April 20, the patient was taken by his family to the M'Drak District Medical Center for examination and treatment. After 3 days of treatment, the patient's condition showed signs of worsening, so on April 23, the patient was transferred to the Central Highlands General Hospital for treatment. On April 25, the patient was transferred to Cho Ray Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City for continued treatment. Test results showed that the patient was positive for Japanese encephalitis virus.
After recording the case, the Dak Lak Provincial Center for Disease Control coordinated with the M'Drak District Health Center and the Commune Health Station to investigate disease vectors in the community and deploy chemical spraying to kill adult mosquitoes. At the same time, they investigated subjects vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis in the expanded immunization program to organize catch-up vaccinations and catch-up vaccinations for those who have not received enough doses.
According to the Dak Lak Provincial Center for Disease Control, Japanese encephalitis is not transmitted directly from person to person. The disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of mosquitoes, mainly Culex tritaeniorhynchus mosquitoes. Mosquitoes suck the blood of animals infected with the Japanese encephalitis virus, usually from pigs, and then bite humans and transmit the virus to humans.
Streptococcus suis
A 58-year-old man developed fever, high blood pressure, headache, drowsiness, hearing loss, and colored hemorrhagic rash on the skin 10 days after consuming pig intestines.
On July 3, 2024, doctors at Phú Thọ General Hospital reported that tests, blood cultures, and cerebrospinal fluid cultures showed that the patient had meningitis caused by Streptococcus suis infection. After more than 20 days of treatment, the patient's health is stable.
The doctor said the patient may have consumed pork or pig intestines infected with strep, but was not properly prepared, cooked thoroughly, or they used the same utensils to cut raw and cooked foods.
Human Streptococcus suis infection is a zoonotic infection associated with pigs. The infection can be fatal, particularly if the specific strain produces certain toxins. S. suis infection can manifest itself in meningitis, hearing impairment, toxic shock, septicemia and endocarditis.
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It can be contracted either through ingesting raw pork or if it comes in contact with an open wound or mucous membrane.
To prevent the disease, members of the public are advised to always practice personal and environmental hygiene. They should avoid contact with pigs that are sick or dead from diseases and their excreta or body fluid. If contact with pigs or raw pork is necessary, one should: Use protective gloves; Wash hands after handling pigs or raw pork; and Clean and cover all wounds properly.