HANOI (Xinhua): Three more cases of diphtheria infection have been reported in Vietnam's central highlands Dak Lak province, bringing the total cases in the locality to six cases as of Tuesday (July 14) afternoon.
The new cases were confirmed in two districts of Cu M'gar and M'Drak, Vietnam News Agency reported, noting that local authorities have immediately tracked down and tested close contacts of the infected patients, and disinfected their living areas to prevent the spread of the outbreak.
Earlier on Saturday, central highlands Gia Lai province also reported one more diphtheria case, bringing the total cases in the locality to 20. The new patient is a three-year-old girl who had close contacts with a man previously tested positive for diphtheria bacteria, according to the news agency.
The Vietnamese Ministry of Health on July 9 launched a vaccination campaign against diphtheria, which, in its initial stage, will offer some 10 million doses of vaccines to 4.7 million people in four central highlands provinces namely Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai, and Kon Tum.
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