Medical staff administers diphtheria prevention medication to students at the Khâu Vai Commune Boarding School for Ethnic Groups. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Hiếu

HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Health (MoH) on Wednesday founded two groups to inspect, monitor and direct diphtheria prevention and control in Hà Giang and Điện Biên northern mountainous provinces.

These two inspection teams, focused on diphtheria prevention, are led by officials from the General Department of Preventive Medicine (VNCDC) and the Department of Medical Service Administration, as outlined in the MoH's official decision.

The teams comprise experts from various departments within the MoH, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, and the Việt Nam National Hospital of Pediatrics.

Their primary responsibilities include collaborating with the two provinces to enhance diphtheria prevention and control measures, monitoring and managing outbreaks, and administering vaccinations to combat the disease.

Additionally, they are tasked with identifying and treating diphtheria patients and conducting educational and awareness campaigns to promote epidemic response practices.

The experts are responsible for assessing the situation and proposing solutions to control the diphtheria epidemic in the coming time.

One person died of diphtheria recently in Mèo Vạc District, Hà Giang Province.

The victim was identified as V.M.D., a 15-year-old belonging to the Mông ethnic group, residing in Khâu Vai B Village, Khâu Vai Commune.

This marks the first reported case of diphtheria in the province in nearly two decades.

In response, the district has implemented several measures to prevent the spread of the disease and minimise the number of cases and fatalities.

Diphtheria is an acute bacterial infection caused by specific bacteria. While the disease is more common among young children, it can also affect adults lacking immunity, according to the VNCDC.

The disease can easily transmitted through the respiratory system or through direct contact with secretions from the patients’ nasopharyngeal mucosa.

Healthy carriers of the bacteria, when coughing or sneezing, especially in densely populated areas with unhygienic conditions, can also spread the disease.

Previously, the disease was quite common in most localities across the country. Since the diphtheria vaccine was included in the expanded vaccination programme, the disease has been controlled. Only a few cases have been recorded due to non-vaccination, usually in remote areas where vaccination rates are low.

Diphtheria has not been eliminated in Việt Nam, so people can still contract the disease if they are not vaccinated or come into contact with the pathogen. — VNS