On the afternoon of March 13, the Preventive Health Team of Thu Duc District reported that no new cases of meningococcal meningitis had been detected in the district over the past few days.
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| The Preventive Health Team in Thu Duc is spraying disinfectant to manage the environmental situation in the area affected by the disease at the workers’ dormitory in Quarter 2, Binh Chieu Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City (photo taken on the afternoon of March 13, 2006, TTO) |
The preventive health team continues to spray disinfectants daily. So far, approximately 1,000 residents in Binh Chieu and Tam Binh wards have received vaccinations against this disease.
On the same afternoon, Dr. Le Thi Thu Thao, head of the adult emergency department at Ho Chi Minh City Tropical Hospital, stated that in Vietnam, cases of meningococcal meningitis are primarily caused by type B bacteria.
Currently, vaccinations against types A and C of meningococcal bacteria can only prevent these two strains; there is no vaccine available for types B and D. Therefore, the best preventive measure remains maintaining personal hygiene and improving living conditions.
According to Dr. Thu Thao, meningococcal meningitis occurs sporadically throughout the year, without a distinct seasonal pattern like other diseases. However, factors that can increase the likelihood of outbreaks include overcrowded living conditions, poor sanitation, or changes in weather from dry to rainy seasons and vice versa. Each year, the Tropical Hospital treats only a few isolated cases from various localities, rather than a concentrated outbreak in a short time as seen this time.
The disease has both severe and mild forms, with variations in severity depending on the individual’s immune response. The mild form occurs when the patient has simple meningitis or a combination of meningitis and septicemia. Upon recovery, there are rarely any neurological complications. In contrast, the severe form is characterized solely by septicemia, and in cases of acute septicemia, it is very difficult to save the patient.
From February 27 to March 9, the Tropical Hospital continuously admitted four patients with meningococcal meningitis, all from Thu Duc District. Among them, two patients admitted on March 9 died a few hours later. Meanwhile, patient V.A.T. (24 years old) was admitted on February 28 and N.V.H. (born in 1987) was admitted on March 4; both have made good recoveries, despite entering the hospital in critical condition with high fever, circulatory collapse, and skin hemorrhage.
As for patient N.V.H., who shared a room with 14 others, the hospital encouraged these individuals to undergo testing, resulting in one person testing positive for meningococcal bacteria (carrying the pathogen) but showing no symptoms and has since been treated. According to Dr. Thu Thao, sometimes carriers of the pathogen do not develop the disease themselves but can still transmit it to others.
