HCMC: Urgent fight against deadly brain inflammatory disease

People living in HCMC have another health concern to be on watch for - meningitis. It causes brain inflamation, and often death.

In a single incident, 5 people including 2 toddlers in HCMC and the southern province of Binh Duong were admitted to hospital for treatment of blood poisoning caused by brain inflammation and 36 people for meningitis bacterium.

Symtoms include fever and red spots on their bodies, along with symptoms of fatigue, irritability and lack of appetite.

Cases of this dreaded disease have been discovered in different districts in the South, including District 7 (Phu My Hung), Thu Duc and Binh Chanh Districts in HCMC, and the province of Binh Duong.

Medical experts believe the disease is contagious as the bacteria can spread from person to person through the respiratory tract and from spit.

As people swamp to crowded locations like supermarkets, bus stations and entertainment areas, doctors are conserned with spread.

The best way to prevent the disease is to maintain good personal hygiene by washing hands with soap regularly, rinsing the mouth periodically and keeping a clean house and surrounding environment, the advice from the Department of Preventative Medicine states. A survey three years ago found that 96% of Vietnamese do not wash their hands after attending to toilet needs.

Anyone should go a nearby hospital immediately if they suffer a fever, headache, vomiting or a stiff neck to receive diagnosis and treatment. Due to the urgency even Foreigners will be diagnosed at VN hospitals.

Shared accommodation is a prime area for attention and landlords have been put on alert, looking for people suffering symptoms of sore throat or fever.

Some readers suggest that Foreigners are immune to these concerns, believing that such commuity concerns don't affect them. Let's hope they have their affairs in order!