The Bac Giang Provincial Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported a confirmed case of diphtheria, a highly contagious and potentially deadly respiratory infection.

The infected individual, M.T.B., 18, is currently living in Trung Tam Hamlet, Hop Thinh Commune, Hiep Hoa District, Bac Giang. Her permanent residence is in Pha Danh Commune, Ky Son District, Nghe An Province.

On July 6, Bac Giang CDC received information from Nghe An CDC about a diphtheria-related death in Ky Son District. Epidemiological investigations revealed two individuals, including M.T.B. and M.T.S., both 18, had close contact with the deceased and were temporarily staying in Hop Thinh Commune, Bac Giang.

Upon receiving this information, Bac Giang CDC, in collaboration with the Hiep Hoa District Health Center, conducted surveillance and collected samples from close contacts.

Preliminary results indicate that from June 25-28, M.T.B. and M.T.S. traveled to Nghe An to take their high school graduation exams and stayed in the same room as the deceased patient. They returned to Hiep Hoa District, Bac Giang, on July 1.

On July 5, after learning about their roommate’s death from diphtheria and experiencing sore throat symptoms, both students took antibiotics purchased from a local pharmacy.

Following the positive diphtheria diagnosis, M.T.B. was transferred to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi for treatment, as Bac Giang had exhausted its supply of diphtheria antitoxin.

Dr. Tu Quoc Hieu, Deputy Director of the Bac Giang Department of Health, has instructed relevant units to urgently sanitize high-risk areas, thoroughly review all individuals who had close contact with the patient, and enforce isolation until two consecutive negative test results are obtained (samples taken 24 hours apart and within 24 hours of starting antibiotic treatment).

Currently, M.T.S. and other close contacts have been quarantined. They are undergoing a 7-day course of preventive antibiotics and will be monitored for 14 days from their last exposure to the confirmed case.

Health authorities in Bac Giang have been advised to prepare for a potential diphtheria outbreak. Local health stations are also instructed to review vaccination records for children and ensure those who have not received all three doses of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine are promptly immunized.

According to the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, diphtheria is classified as a Group B infectious disease, which can spread rapidly and has a high mortality rate. Even with treatment, the fatality rate ranges from 5% to 10%.

The Ministry of Health states that the bacteria causing diphtheria typically affect the upper respiratory tract (nose, throat, larynx), forming a thick, adhesive pseudomembrane that is difficult to remove. The bacteria produce a toxin that can cause widespread organ damage (heart, kidneys, nervous system), with high mortality risk due to airway obstruction and myocarditis. Diphtheria can be treated with specific antibiotics and antitoxin, and prevention is possible through vaccination.

Vo Thu