Recently, an 18-year-old girl in Ky Son district in Nghe An province, died from diphtheria. In Bac Giang, health authorities also confirmed a diphtheria case involving M.T.B., an 18-year-old from Nghe An, who was temporarily residing in Hop Thinh commune, Hiep Hoa district. This individual had close contact with the deceased diphtheria case in Nghe An.

On the afternoon of July 8, the Department of Preventive Medicine, under the Ministry of Health, issued a document to the Departments of Health in Nghe An and Bac Giang provinces, urging proactive measures to enhance the prevention and control of diphtheria.

The Ministry of Health has also directed localities to conduct a rapid review, administer supplementary vaccinations, and prepare plans to receive suspected diphtheria cases following the death of a female student.

To prevent the spread of diphtheria, the Department of Preventive Medicine has directed the health directors in Nghe An and Bac Giang to:

1. Intensify surveillance to promptly identify suspected diphtheria cases, conduct timely sample testing, and administer prophylactic antibiotics to all close contacts.

2. Ensure proper patient admission, emergency care, triage, and treatment, establish separate examination and isolation areas, and implement infection control measures to minimize fatalities and cross-infection.

3. Compile a list of individuals who have not been vaccinated or are under-vaccinated against diphtheria and promptly administer supplementary vaccinations, especially in remote, rural, and ethnic minority areas.

4. Enhance public awareness campaigns to encourage proactive disease prevention, closely monitor the health of students at educational institutions, and promptly isolate and manage suspected cases.

5. Request diphtheria antitoxin serum from the Ministry of Health’s Department of Planning and Finance for distribution and use according to regulations.

Phuong Thuy