Ha Tinh Province’s General Hospital in north-central Vietnam confirmed on Wednesday that it had transferred a 56-year-old resident to the Hanoi-based National Hospital for Tropical Diseases for testing and further treatment, after he was diagnosed with probable diphtheria.

The patient, P.H.D., returned to Ha Tinh from the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak five days earlier before developing several symptoms, such as a sore throat, neck pain, and itchy eyes, according to his medical record.

He was taken to a grassroots-level hospital and then Ha Tinh Province’s General Hospital, where he was given an ear, nose, and throat endoscopy and was diagnosed with suspected diphtheria.

He was sent to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases for diphtheria testing and treatment at around 4:30 pm on Tuesday.

His test results are expected to be available on Wednesday, Nguyen Chi Thanh, director of the Ha Tinh Center for Disease Control (CDC), told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper the same day.

The Ha Tinh CDC already started tracing people who had come into close contact with the suspected case.

If he tests positive for diphtheria, those in such close contact with him will be quarantined and take preventive medicines, the local health official said.

A few days ago, two 18-year-old girls hailing from Nghe An Province, north-central Vietnam were hospitalized and quarantined following the death of their roommate who contracted diphtheria.

According to health authorities, diphtheria is an acute bacterial infection that affects the throat and the upper respiratory tract including the nose, nasopharynx, nasal cavity, and pharynx.

This contagious disease can lead to outbreaks and can be fatal.

Diphtheria patients without proper treatment can die in 6-10 days.

To avoid catching the disease, people are advised to keep personal hygiene, wash hands regularly with soap, cover their mouth when coughing or sneezing, refrain from having contact with those with probable or confirmed diphtheria, and keep their homes and the surroundings clean and airy.

People with suspected diphtheria should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Diphtheria is not only treatable but also preventable with vaccines.

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