Meningococcal disease is contagious, there is a risk of more community cases, how to prevent it?

Meningococcal disease is easily spread, risk of more community cases, how to prevent the disease? - Photo 1.

Image of dark purple skin of a patient with meningococcal disease - Photo: Provided by Hospital for Tropical Diseases

Easily causes epidemics in crowded areas with poor hygiene

According to data from the Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City, in the first 4 months of 2025, the Southern region recorded 12 cases of meningococcal disease in 8/20 provinces and cities, including Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Lam Dong... This figure increased by 9 cases compared to the same period in 2024.

In Ho Chi Minh City alone, since the beginning of the year, there have been 4 cases of meningococcal disease recorded.

According to information from the Hospital for Tropical Diseases (HCMC), around mid-February, the emergency department received a male patient (38 years old) transferred from a lower level in a state of lethargy, high fever, chills, severe headache, painful swelling of the joints with a dark purple rash on the thighs and both legs.

Doctors determined that this was a severe case of acute infectious disease caused by meningococcal bacteria. The patient was treated with high doses of antibiotics.

The hospital coordinated with the disease prevention agency to monitor the health of close contacts and discovered two people suspected of being infected. These people were treated early, helping to prevent the risk of serious progression and temporarily control the risk of the disease spreading.

According to experts, in the coming time, there is a high risk of more cases appearing in the community.

The disease is most likely to cause an epidemic in nurseries, families, collective housing areas, and industrial zones with high population density and poor hygiene conditions.

How to detect infection early and how to prevent it?

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC), meningococcal disease is an acute infectious disease caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis. This bacteria causes many forms of disease from mild to severe such as: causing purulent meningitis or sepsis, which can be fulminant, progressing very quickly within a few hours and can cause death.

In our country, the disease is endemic and recorded sporadically in many localities, often occurring in winter and spring. The disease often leaves severe sequelae such as mental retardation, deafness, and paralysis with a rate of 10 - 20%. The mortality rate can be from 8 - 15%.

Regarding the source of the disease, Dr. Nguyen Minh Tien - Deputy Director of the City Children's Hospital (HCMC) - said that the only source is humans (can be patients or asymptomatic carriers of the bacteria or healthy carriers), through the respiratory tract (direct contact with the source of the disease by inhaling secretions from the nose, throat, and throat).

The incubation period is 1-10 days, with an average of 5-7 days. Children from 6 months to 3 years old are most susceptible to the disease, or adolescents from 14 to 20 years old, and the disease rate is low in people over 20 years old.

To detect meningococcal infection early, Dr. Tien noted that it is necessary to pay attention to early symptoms such as fever, sore throat, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, the appearance of a purple rash on the skin or conjunctival hemorrhage in the context of contact with a patient infected with meningococcus or having previously bathed in a swimming pool.

Regarding the treatment of meningococcal disease, although there are effective antibiotics, due to the dangerous nature of the disease, patients can easily get worse quickly if not detected promptly.

To prevent meningococcal disease, the health sector recommends that people in the community, especially in areas with epidemics, need to practice good personal hygiene: wash hands regularly with soap, gargle with common nasal and throat antiseptic solutions.

Eat nutritious food, exercise, and improve your health. Practice good hygiene and ventilation in your home and workplace. Take the initiative to get vaccinated at medical facilities.

When detecting signs of suspected illness, you should see a doctor or immediately notify the nearest medical facility.