Acute diarrhea spreads in north, one dead
To May 18, 540 people in eleven northern provinces have been diagnosed with acute diarrhea, including 53 testing positive to vibrio cholerae bacterium, reports the Preventive Health and Environment Agency (PHEA).
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| Acute diarrhea has spread to eleven provinces in the north. |
The affected provinces cover the entire Red River Delta area and adjacent Quang Ninh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa.
PHEA, a unit of the Ministry of Health, announced the death of a suspected cholera victim in Ninh Binh on May 18.
PHEA chief Dr. Nguyen Huy Nga said that the Central Institute for Epidemiology reports the dead patient tested positive to the cholera bacterium. He was an alcoholic in poor health, who died of dehydration and debilitation.
The agency asked the local Preventive Health Centre to decontaminate the man’s house and investigate the causes of his death.
Vinh Phuc province is the latest to announce cases of acute diarrhea. Two detected on May 18 tested positive for vibrio cholerae. According to the provincial Preventive Heath Centre, the people contracted acute diarrhea by eating dog meat with shrimp paste.
Ha Nam and Hoa Binh provinces have also now reported patients testing positive to vibrio cholerae bacterium.
PHEA Director Nga emphasized that all acute diarrhea patients have been found to have eaten certain foods, for example, dog meat, shrimp paste, raw vegetables and unhygienic food.
Hanoi authorities continued checking dog slaughterhouses in Ha Dong and Tu Liem District on May 18. Some more dog meat restaurants and slaughterhouses in Tu Liem district were closed down.
Nga added that many other provinces are now at high risk of an acute diarrhea outbreak, especially as humid conditions are favourable for the bacteria to spread. PHEA has warned people not to eat food such as dog meat and raw vegetables, especially in crowded places.
According to the Ministry of Health, the affected provinces have responded quickly by sterilising the affected areas and distributing medicine to people who were in contact with infected patients.
Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Xuyen instructed provincial health departments to work with people’s committees to form task forces to help combat acute diarrhea and prevent it from spreading.
Province level health authorities are also responsible for providing necessary health equipment and medicines for hospitals and health centers to cope with a serious epidemic.
All cases of acute diarrhea and suspected cholera should be reported to the Ministry through the hotline: 04.6273095.
VN still free from the A/H1N1 flu virus but taking no chances
The HCM City Department of Health on May 18 sent eight doctors from four more hospitals to join the health quarantine group at the Tan San Nhat Airport.
The move is necessary when the swine flu is spreading in the world because it can help improve initial diagnoses, said HCM City Department of Health’s Phan Van Nghiem.
At Tan Son Nhat Airport, many more passengers with high body temperature have been detected in recent days: ten on May 17 and four on May 18. Nghiem said that of the ten passengers detained with high temperature on May 17, nine have now tested negative to A/H1N1 flu.
City Health Department Director Nguyen Van Chau said the city has launched a campaign to provide necessary information about A/H1N1 flu so people can protect themselves. The city has also organized training courses for health workers on measures to cope with the dangerous flu in case it spreads to Vietnam.
According to the World Health Organization, as of May 17, 8480 swine flu patients have been recorded in 40 countries and territories; 75 have died. On May 17, Japan discovered a dozen of patients. The first case in Southeast Asia, in Malaysia, was announced on May 13.
PV
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