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.

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 cookings 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