Dangerous diarrhea outbreak in Hanoi

After an emergency meeting on October 30, the Ministry of Health announced that dangerous acute diarrhea has appeared in Hanoi and some northern provinces. The death rate from this disease can be up to 50% if not treated promptly.

Deputy Minister Trinh Quan Huan said, from October 23 to now, a series of patients have been hospitalized with symptoms of digestion such as heavy diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration. Most of them have been treated in a private or local health clinic. Then when they are transferred to the central level, they are newly diagnosed with acute diarrhea.

To date, the number of people identified with this disease is 33, mainly from 11 districts of Hanoi, some are from Ha Tay and Vinh Phuc. They are being treated at the National Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Bach Mai Hospital, Dong Da Hospital, 198 .

According to Hanoi Department of Health, up to 90% of the above patients have eaten raw food, mainly shrimp paste, shrimp paste

Picture 1 of Dangerous diarrhea outbreak in Hanoi

Bacteria that cause diarrhea(Photo rfa.org)

and this is the source of transmission of pathogenic bacteria. Dr Huan said that this bacterium causes patients to go outside and vomit constantly, causing severe dehydration and electrolytes. If not treated promptly, 40-50% of patients can die from cardiovascular collapse.

Dangerous bacteria enter the body through raw food and waste of patients. Currently it is resistant to some antibiotics such as Tetracyclin, Chloramphenic . In terms of treatment, in addition to the use of antibiotics also for high efficiency, the current main method is rehydration and electrolytes.

Hanoi prohibits the use of shrimp and fish sauce

Today, Hanoi People's Committee issued a document to suspend the use of shrimp and fish sauce in processing and trading activities of restaurants, supermarkets and street food services. The Ministry of Health also recommends that people in the Northern provinces do not eat uncooked foods, especially shrimp paste, shrimp paste, fresh seafood, fish salad, spring rolls .

Mr. Trinh Quan Huan predicted that, because the source of the disease is food, in the coming time, the epidemic may appear in the form of sticky rice - scattered cases everywhere. If it is not decided immediately, the risk of epidemic spread in place and to other provinces is very high.


Picture 2 of Dangerous diarrhea outbreak in Hanoi
Do not eat raw shrimp paste and uncooked foods

Currently, to localize the epidemic, the health sector has used Chloramin B in all surface water sources at the patient's family. People who are in contact with them are allowed to use backup. In these areas, there are 24-hour medical staff to prevent any further changes.

The Ministry of Health has also set up a Steering Committee for Dangerous Diarrhea Epidemic and started a food inspection, first of all in the Northern provinces. In particular, the Ministry asked the central provinces such as Thanh Hoa and Nghe An - which often supply shrimp sauce to the North - stopped shipping this item. On October 31, the Ministry will also organize four food inspection teams to the provinces, focusing on fresh seafood and food.

4 solutions to prevent dangerous acute diarrhea

The Ministry of Health urgently urges people to implement the following measures:

1. Personal and environmental hygiene : Wash your hands with soap before eating and after cleaning. Each family has a hygienic latrine, indiscriminate banning. Families with patients need to sprinkle lime powder or Chloramin B after each bowel movement. Stool and patient waste must be poured into the latrine, lime powder and Chloramin B should be removed after each disinfection. Avoid concentrating on eating as many people as funerals, weddings .

2. Food safety : Eat and drink boiled, do not eat raw vegetables or drink water, do not eat susceptible foods, especially raw shrimp paste, fresh seafood, fish salad, soup, spring rolls sour

3. Protect water and use clean water : Drinking water must be protected cleanly. All drinking and drinking water must be disinfected with Chloramin chemical B. Prohibit the dumping of waste, washing water, washing of patient's supplies or the disposal of dead animals, garbage into ponds, lakes, rivers and wells. When there is a diarrhea patient, quickly notify the nearest medical facility for timely treatment.

HH