More new cases of diphtheria infection have been confirmed in Vietnam in the past few days, Vietnam News Agency reported.
A 12-year-old student in southern Binh Phuoc province has tested positive for diphtheria bacteria, being the first case reported in the province, Vietnam News Agency cited local authorities as reporting on Saturday.
A total of five diphtheria infection cases had been confirmed in central Quang Tri province as of Friday afternoon. The patients, aged from seven to nine, were all from Vinh Ha commune in Vinh Linh District. The first diphtheria case in Quang Tri was reported on Tuesday, with the transmission source remaining unknown.
Central highlands Gia Lai province saw two more cases confirmed on Friday, bringing the total cases in the locality to 27, according to the news agency.
The patients have been provided with proper treatment while local authorities have immediately tracked down and tested close contacts of the infected patients, and disinfected their living areas to contain the outbreaks.
In the past few weeks, Vietnamese authorities have been strengthening prevention and control measures against diphtheria, including vaccination promotion, after dozens of infection cases were reported, mostly in the country's central highlands region.