After recording a case of meningococcal meningitis in Phu Quoc (An Giang), the health sector and the Phu Quoc special zone government urgently and drastically implemented many measures to control and prevent the risk of disease spread. One of the key solutions is to organize the distribution of preventive antibiotics to students at schools where cases are detected, contributing to protecting community health and stabilizing the psychology of parents and students. In addition, epidemiological surveillance and disease prevention propaganda have also been strengthened to promptly respond to all situations.
At the elementary school where the meningococcal meningitis case was recorded, after receiving instructions from the health sector, the school quickly implemented necessary measures to prevent the epidemic. Information was sent to each class through contact groups, requiring students to be present in their classrooms to ensure order and convenience in the organization process.
Here, students are checked by medical staff for weight, consulted and given preventive antibiotics, and guided to take antibiotics right in class, to ensure disease prevention effectiveness. Many parents have proactively brought their children to school with peace of mind, when their children are cared for and health cared for in time before the risk of epidemics.
Ms. Nguyen Thi My Dung, a student's parent, shared: "The school announced to come to school to take medicine, so I brought my child to take it to prevent the disease. When I get home, I keep myself clean, wash my hands regularly, wear a mask when going to school, clean the house, I must be self-conscious that protecting myself is the best.
Ms. Lai Thi Tam, a student's parent, shared: "I took my child to school to coordinate to take an additional dose of this antibiotic to further enhance protection for my child. I also learned information, at home to prevent myself such as disinfecting to avoid contact with many people and wearing a mask for my child to go to school. I think we follow the recommendations to help protect our children, so we are not too panicked, we go for vaccination and take antibiotics at the medical facility they are implementing, then this epidemic will be controlled.
According to the An Giang Provincial Department of Health, regarding the case of meningococcal meningitis in Phu Quoc, there has been 1 death due to late hospitalization and 1 case of a classmate with symptoms of meningococcal meningitis, being treated at the Ho Chi Minh City Tropical Diseases Hospital with stable health.
An Giang Department of Health has directed an epidemiological investigation, compiling a list of people in close contact to monitor health and take preventive antibiotics. This is a group B infectious disease, transmitted through the respiratory tract, so preventive measures such as maintaining personal hygiene, environmental sanitation, vaccination against the disease and proactive early examination when there are suspicious signs. The health sector also recommends that people raise awareness of disease prevention, be cautious of unverified information to avoid causing panic in the community.
Doctor CK II Chung Tan Thinh - Deputy Director of An Giang Provincial Department of Health - said: "For epidemic prevention and control, the Department of Health directs the Provincial Center for Disease Control and Phu Quoc Medical Center to drastically implement measures. Basically, up to this point, it is well controlled, close contact cases related to the case are also controlled and do not arise, no further symptoms are recorded. At the same time, close contact cases have been given preventive antibiotics at the correct dose according to the recommendations of the Ministry of Health, people should not panic or worry.
Currently, the health sector and the Phu Quoc special zone government are closely monitoring the epidemic situation and have not recorded any more suspicious cases. At the same time, each citizen also needs to proactively monitor their health, comply with medical instructions and not spread unverified information, avoiding causing panic in the community.
