VietNamNet Bridge – The number of cholera patients in the north sharply fell last week but health experts still worry about its spread to the central region and the south.

In the past three days, only three cholera patients have been reported. The National Institute for Contagious and Tropical Diseases is now taking care of 99 diarrhea patients only, compared to 200 several days ago. The number of new patients arriving at the institute has been between 15-20 per day in the past three days, a reduction of nearly two-thirds. The number of patients at Bach Mai hospital is 40.

In Phu Tho, Nghe An and Hai Duong, there have been no new cases reported for some days. In Hanoi, where the epidemic is the strongest, the number of new patients is falling.

As many as 520 diarrhea sufferers were discharged from hospitals on November 12, according to Dr. Ly Ngoc Kinh, head of the Treatment Department under the Ministry of Public Health.

Since cholera hit Vietnam three weeks ago there have been no reported deaths, showing the country’s swift effort to control the epidemic.

Deputy Health Minister Trinh Quan Huan, who is also head of the National Steering Committee on Cholera Prevention, said eight government working groups had been established to examine and supervise the prevention of acute diarrhea in flood-hit areas in the country’s central and southern regions.

The Ministry of Health has asked the World Health Organisation (WHO) to assist in identifying the infection source.

The ministry is also working with relevant agencies to supervise infected people, improve staff capacity in preventing the epidemic and raising awareness of food hygiene and disease control.

A total of 1,661 people from 14 provinces and cities nationwide have contracted diarrhea, including 204 cholera patients.

As many people in Hanoi want to use cholera vaccine as a disease prevention, Dr. Nguyen Huy Nga, Vice Head of the Preventive Health Agency, said that the Health Ministry advises people not to take cholera vaccine and Vietnam does not have cholera vaccine for service.

Nga said that the effectiveness of cholera vaccine is very low, with an efficacy of only 60-70%.

Another impact of cholera vaccination is that vaccinated people may feel invulnerable to cholera and avoid necessary precautions while the vaccine takes effect only 14-16 days after injection. The vaccine is only for highly risky areas and people who are about to go to cholera-hit zones.

(Source: VNE, TTXVN)