HANOI (Xinhua): The central Thanh Hoa province has become Vietnam's first locality this year to announce the diathpheria epidemic after three positive cases were detected in Muong Lat town, local media has reported.
Thirty-four people having close contact with the infection cases have been identified. All of them are living in the same residential area in Muong Lat town.
According to local authorities, the infection risk remains high.
The authorities are taking emergency preventive measures such as medical quarantine, spraying disinfectant at infection areas.
Thanh Hoa province reported the first diathpheria case on Aug. 5 who was a 17-year-old pregnant woman.
Three days later, a 10-year-old boy and a 74-year-old woman who are relatives of the pregnant woman were infected.
They were being treated at hospitals and in stable condition.
Diphtheria is a disease caused by a bacterium that affects the upper respiratory tract and less often the skin. It also produces a toxin that damages the heart and the nerves. Diphtheria is a vaccine preventable disease, but multiple doses and booster doses are needed to produce and sustain immunity - Xinhua
