At least
seven babies in the mountainous province of Cao Bang died the past five weeks
possibly due to viral encephalitis, raising concerns about an outbreak.
The
province’s health department said seven babies under six months died in one
district between April 19 and May 25, and 12 others are under treatment with
similar symptoms that include fever, cough and respiratory inflammation.
Experts
from the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemeology who visited the
children suspected that they suffer from viral encephalitis. It is a rare but
acute condition that causes inflammation of the brain and usually starts with
flu-like symptoms.
The
fatalities are very high compared to only three encephalitis deaths reported
from all other places in the country this year.
The exact
virus and strain in these seven cases have not been identified.
Tran Dac
Phu, head of the Preventive Health Department at the health ministry, said the
disease peaks between June and August. It is a dangerous one because late
treatment can leave severe damage to the nervous system.
People
can be infected through insects’ bites, ingestion or inhaling. Children under
15 are more vulnerable.
Vietnam
provides vaccination against Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) for children
from one year old.
But protection
against other encephalitis virus groups such as herpes and enterovirus is not
available yet. The latter causes the hand, foot and mouth disease that claims
many children lives in Vietnam every year.
No comments:
Post a Comment