On March 21, An Giang Department of Health informed that through monitoring and supervising people closely related to the death of meningococcal meningitis in Phu Quoc, a case recorded a classmate with symptoms of the disease.
The patient is being treated at the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases with stable health status and a good prognosis for recovery. Other students and teachers who have had contact are being monitored for their health in Phu Quoc, and no signs of suspected illness have been recorded. At the same time, no other suspected cases of illness in the family and residential area of the patient have been recorded that have died.
The Department of Health has requested personnel support from higher-level specialized agencies to strengthen and ensure medical examination and treatment in Phu Quoc in the near future in the face of the diễn biến of meningococcal meningitis.
The Department of Health requests all people and communities to strengthen the implementation of meningococcal meningitis prevention measures according to the recommendations of the health sector; should not believe in false or unverified information that causes psychological panic and fear, affecting the life and socio-economic development of Phu Quoc special zone in particular and the province in general.
As previously reported, on March 16, 2026, Phu Quoc Medical Center (TTYT) received and treated a case of an 11-year-old female patient living in Quarter 10, Phu Quoc Special Zone, An Giang province with septic shock, whole-body rash, and unclear vaccination history.
Through visits, examinations and sampling for testing, Phu Quoc TTYT diagnosed the patient with meningococcal meningitis and handled shock, treated infection according to the protocol of the Ministry of Health and reported to the Department of Health and relevant agencies.
However, due to the rapid progression of the disease, the clinical picture of the acute form and the delayed hospital admission time, the patient was pronounced severe and highly likely to die. The patient died on the same day.
Faced with that situation, the Department of Health directed the Provincial Center for Disease Control to coordinate and support Phu Quoc TTYT to urgently implement measures to handle cases of sporadic meningococcal meningitis, investigate and compile a list of cases of close contact to monitor health and guide the prescription of preventive antibiotics, and proactively implement measures to prevent the spread of the epidemic in the area.
The Department also recommends that people get vaccinated against the disease according to the recommended schedule of the Ministry of Health. The disease can be treated and recover well if detected early and taken to a medical facility immediately when there are initial suspicious signs of the disease.
