Gia Lai closes schools as diphtheria spreads
The central highlands province of Gia Lai has closed many schools in Hai Yang Commune since July 6 as diphtheria has continued to spread.
Mai Xuan Hai, director of Gia Lai Department of Health, said they were tracing people that had close contacts with the first patient to prevent more outbreaks. The first patient, a 4-year-old child, died at 2.30 am on July 5. The authorities have taken samples from 24 people for testing and nine came back positive.
The local authorities have to set up checkpoints to control the traffic in and out of Hai Yang Commune. An immunisation plan has also been built.
In Kon Tum Province's Sa Thay District, students have also been allowed to stay at home after eight people were tested positive for diphtheria. Hai said they had had some difficulties with the vaccination programme. Many ethnic people aren't aware of the danger of diphtheria and tried to avoid vaccination.
Since early 2020, 23 diphtheria cases have been reported in Kon Tum. From June 27 to July 2, 14 cases were found in Dien Binh Commune, Sa Thay District. All of them are ethnic people. The Ministry of Health has directed Kon Tum authorities to quickly control the outbreak, take samples to detect new patients, disinfect areas to prevent the outbreak from spreading, and hold training courses for medical staff.
They must also identify vulnerable groups and carry out vaccination programmes for those who haven't had been vaccinated against diphtheria. The ministry also asked Kon Tum authorities to clean and keep educational facilities fresh and open. If any child shows symptoms, they must be reported to the local medical stations for quarantine.
Doctor checks body temperature of children in Hai Yan Commune
Mai Xuan Hai, director of Gia Lai Department of Health, said they were tracing people that had close contacts with the first patient to prevent more outbreaks. The first patient, a 4-year-old child, died at 2.30 am on July 5. The authorities have taken samples from 24 people for testing and nine came back positive.
The local authorities have to set up checkpoints to control the traffic in and out of Hai Yang Commune. An immunisation plan has also been built.
In Kon Tum Province's Sa Thay District, students have also been allowed to stay at home after eight people were tested positive for diphtheria. Hai said they had had some difficulties with the vaccination programme. Many ethnic people aren't aware of the danger of diphtheria and tried to avoid vaccination.
Since early 2020, 23 diphtheria cases have been reported in Kon Tum. From June 27 to July 2, 14 cases were found in Dien Binh Commune, Sa Thay District. All of them are ethnic people. The Ministry of Health has directed Kon Tum authorities to quickly control the outbreak, take samples to detect new patients, disinfect areas to prevent the outbreak from spreading, and hold training courses for medical staff.
They must also identify vulnerable groups and carry out vaccination programmes for those who haven't had been vaccinated against diphtheria. The ministry also asked Kon Tum authorities to clean and keep educational facilities fresh and open. If any child shows symptoms, they must be reported to the local medical stations for quarantine.
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