Nghe An records diphtheria death with two more people put in quarantine
VOV.VN - A woman residing in Ky Son district in the central province of Nghe An has died of diphtheria, while two individuals aged 18 have also been infected with the disease.
According to details given by the local authority, the two other patients are the first patient’s roommates who work at a karaoke venue in Hiep Hoa district of the southern province of Bac Giang.
On June 25 and June 26, the two patients returned to their hometown in Nghe An to attend their high school graduation exam, during which they shared a room with the woman who was infected with diphtheria.
On July 1, they went back to work at the karaoke parlour in Hiep Hoa.
Following this, after hearing of their roommate’ death due to diphtheria on July 5 and showing symptoms of a sore throat, the two girls went to a local pharmacy to purchase antibiotics.
After testing positive for the bacterium strain Corynebacterium, the two patients were then taken to the Hanoi-based Central Hospital of Tropical Diseases and were subsequently quarantined to undergo medical observation.
According to information given by the Ministry of Health, diphtheria is an infection caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheria. Symptoms include fever, a sore throat, difficulties in swallowing, and white patches forming in the throat that could potentially block the airway. Complications include myocarditis, kidney problems, respiratory failure, inflammation of nerves, coma, and death.
The disease is common among children but can occur in adults who have impaired immunity. Although the disease can easily be transmitted from one person to another, diphtheria can be prevented through vaccination.
