Military Hospital 175 in HCM City is treating a diphtheria case. — Photo plo.vn

 HCM CITY — A 20-year-old man who tested positive for diphtheria is being treated at Military Hospital 175 in HCM City, making the city the second locality in Việt Nam reporting diphtheria cases this month after the Central Highlands province of Đắk Nông.

Lieutenant Colonel Phan Bá Hiếu from the hospital’s Infectious Diseases Department said the patient was received nine days ago when he suffered a fever, sore throat, as well as swelling of the jaw and lymph nodes. He tested positive for diphtheria.

The hospital urged authorities to isolate and disinfect disease-prone areas to minimise the risk of the infection spreading.

Sixteen people who had close contact with the patient were quarantined and treated, although all tested negative for the diphtheria bacteria.

Thanks to ongoing preventive measures against COVID-19, all health workers and patients in the hospital wear face masks, reducing the risk of infection, he said.

The patient’s health has improved, and he has no fever, no sore throat and no swelling anymore.

Meanwhile, HCM City’s Hospital for Tropical Diseases on Friday announced that they have received a child patient with diphtheria from the Đắk Nông Outbreak.

The 13-year-old boy from the H’mong ethnic minority group was taken to the Central Highlands Region General Hospital earlier for fever, cough, sore throat and breathing difficulty.

His family reported that he was not vaccinated against diphtheria and the child was found to have inflammation of the heart muscles and respiratory failure.

The patient was transferred to HCM City’s Hospital for Tropical Diseases last night. He has been put on a heart-supporting machine and medicines.

Previously, on June 20, the hospital received a 9-year-old diphtheria patient from the same outbreak, but due to very serious complications, the girl died two hours after arriving. She was also not vaccinated against diphtheria.

So far, 12 diphtheria case were reported in Đắk Nông Province. Up to 355 people living in Area 2, Village 6, Quảng Hoà Commune, Đắk Glong District in the Central Highlands province have been isolated. — VNS