Recently, Phu Quoc special zone (An Giang) recorded a death due to group B meningococcal meningitis. Local authorities quickly issued a notice to strengthen epidemic prevention and control measures. This move is aimed at proactively controlling the risk of spread, protecting public health, and at the same time recommending people to raise awareness of disease prevention, monitor health and promptly go to medical facilities when suspicious signs appear.
At schools, schools have also proactively strengthened disease prevention and control measures, and at the same time advised students to raise awareness of self-protection such as wearing masks when going to class, regularly personal hygiene, washing hands thoroughly and maintaining a safe learning environment. In addition, teachers also monitor students' health status, promptly notify parents and medical agencies when detecting suspicious signs.
Mr. Phung Nhat Vu - Principal of Duong Dong 1 Primary School, Phu Quoc Special Zone said: "Regarding meningococcal meningitis, the school also has a propaganda article guiding the prevention of this disease so that students understand and parents are assured in preventing the disease. Practice wearing masks, body hygiene and cleaning the classroom thoroughly...".
According to the health sector, meningococcal meningitis is an infectious disease, transmitted through the respiratory tract, which can worsen if not detected and treated promptly, with symptoms such as sudden high fever, headache, nausea, dizziness, runny nose... Therefore, people need to monitor their health and go to medical facilities immediately when there are suspicious signs. To prevent the disease effectively, it is necessary to maintain personal hygiene, wash hands regularly, wear masks in crowded places, maintain a ventilated living environment, and limit close contact with suspected patients.
Doctor Vo Thanh Dung - Deputy Director of Phu Quoc Medical Center shared: "Currently, meningococcal meningitis is transmitted through droplets and is not transmitted through air, the rate of spreading to epidemics is also very difficult, but it spreads from person to person through discharge. Therefore, people should not panic and fear leading to improper prevention. However, we cannot be negligent in prevention and control, do not have close contact, maintain hygiene and wash hands before eating. For the health sector, suspected cases have also been taken to the area, taken to schools for disinfection and proactive prevention for people with close contact".
According to the People's Committee of the special zone, people should not panic before information related to diseases or suspected cases of death due to meningococcal meningitis. At the same time, it is necessary to avoid sharing and spreading information when it has not been verified or has no official conclusion from functional agencies. In addition, each citizen should proactively get fully vaccinated according to recommendations, but should not focus on mass vaccination at the same time, in order to limit the risk of causing panic in the community as well as minimize the possibility of disease spread.
Dr. Vo Thanh Dung added that in this phase, it is also recommended that people who take their children for vaccination should not take them out in droves. Private and public health facilities are all implementing vaccination, people can rest assured and should schedule them according to the time. If taking them out in droves and jostling, they will not only spread this disease by cross-reaction but also have the risk of spreading other respiratory diseases.
The proactive implementation of epidemic prevention and control measures shows the high vigilance and determination to protect community health of the Phu Quoc special zone government. These efforts contribute to controlling the risk of epidemics, creating peace of mind for people, with the message of proactive prevention, not being negligent but also not panicking in all situations.
