HCMC – As of July 17, a total of 16 diphtheria hotspots were confirmed in the Central Highlands, with 114 positive cases, including three fatalities.
Among the three fatalities, two were reported in Dak Nong Province and one was reported in Gia Lai Province, it was announced at a conference on July 21.
Speaking at the conference reviewing efforts in preventive healthcare in the region in the first half of the year, the Central Highlands Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology said that the region saw the number of diphtheria cases between January and June rise by 37 year-on-year.
The institute is cooperating with the centers for disease control of Dak Nong, Kon Tum and Gia Lai to deal with the diphtheria hotspots and wipe out the disease, Motthegioi news site reported.
Moreover, the institute also said it would adopt effective solutions over disease prevention and control in the provinces of the Central Highlands region in the second half of 2020.
Apart from promptly dealing with the outbreak of new diseases, the institute will try to effectively contain diphtheria, measles, hand-foot-mouth disease and dengue fever to prevent an epidemic.
Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen appreciated the region’s preventive healthcare efforts during the six-month period, praising the Central Highlands region for no new Covid-19 cases and a sharp fall in the number of infections and fatalities of contagious diseases.
To bring diphtheria under control and prevent the disease from spreading, the deputy minister asked the institute to adopt all disease infection prevention and control measures and ensure food safety and hygiene.
Tuyen also urged the authorities of the provinces in the region to map out a plan to have residents vaccinated against diphtheria and other contagious diseases, alongside including the vaccination target in the socio-economic growth plans of communes, districts and provinces.
