[health-vn] Acute diarrhea spreads to eighth province in north

[Vern Weitzel]

http://www.thanhniennews.com/healthy/?catid=8&newsid=48891

Last Updated: Saturday, May 16, 2009 23:04:54 Vietnam (GMT+07)

Acute diarrhea spreads to eighth province in north
	
A patient with acute diarrhea at Thanh Loc Commune Medical Center in Thanh Hoa 
Province’s Hau Loc District	The northern Ninh Binh Province Friday reported that 
people were hospitalized with acute diarrhea to become the eighth locality in 
the northern and north-central regions to report a breakout.
The central Bureau of Preventive Health said some of the patients also tested 
positive for acute diarrhea but did not disclose how many.
Hanoi, Hai Phong and the provinces of Nam Dinh, Bac Ninh, Quang Ninh, Hai Duong 
and Thanh Hoa earlier reported outbreaks of acute diarrhea.
Acute diarrhea has been raging in the northern and north-central regions, with 
dozens of patients admitted to hospitals.
The Bureau’s head, Nguyen Huy Nga, warned on Friday of a possible increase in 
the number of cases, pointing out that 50 to 70 percent of patients contracted 
the disease by eating dog meat.
“The movement of people can facilitate the further spread of the diarrhea,” he said.
Dr. Nguyen Tran Hien, director of the National Institute of Hygiene and 
Epidemiology, said the institute is investigating the source of the vibrio 
cholera bacteria in the dog meat.
“Some dogs may have eaten foods containing the bacteria,” he said.
“Maintaining personnel hygiene and eating cooked and safe foods are basic 
requirements for fighting cholera.”
The cholera pathogen has yet to be found in the water supply anywhere, he said, 
but many people discharge waste directly into water bodies, which threatens to 
spread the infectious disease.
Enforcing prevention
Bui Quang Anh, head of the Animal Health Bureau, said his agency has instructed 
provinces to monitor slaughter of dogs and cats and take strict action against 
violators.
The Hanoi Center for Preventive Health on Friday warned residents against 
consuming foods with a high risk of bacteria infection. They also encouraged 
residents to wash their hands with soap.
The warnings have kept most people away from dog-meat eateries in the capital.
Nevertheless, the trade in dog meat was busy as usual at Y La and La Duong 
villages in Ha Dong District, Thanh Nien found Friday.
Many slaughterhouses and small traders of dog meat do not practice hygiene, and 
pour waste from the slaughter directly into the sewerage.
In Ho Chi Minh City, the Department of Health on Friday instructed all health 
agencies to enforce preventive measures against the possible spread of acute 
diarrhea from the north and north-central regions.
The department advised residents to avoid eating shrimp paste, nem chua 
(traditional fermented meat roll) and tiet canh (blood pudding), and practice 
hygiene.
The HCMC Preventive Health Center also instructed its agencies to test tap water 
all around the city and supply lime powder or chloramine B to residents in areas 
without tap water.
It ordered all medical centers to immediately report any suspected cases of cholera.
Reported by Thanh Nien staff