Warning: Dangerous dragon worm infection due to eating "specialty" fish salad

Tan Son District Medical Center (Phu Tho Province) has just announced that it has received a case of dragon worm infection - a dangerous parasitic disease that was once considered almost eliminated in Vietnam.

Worryingly, this is the 6th case recorded in the district in just 5 years.

On April 30, a male patient (44 years old), residing in Long Coc commune, was admitted to the Infectious Diseases Department, Tan Son District Medical Center with pain and swelling in the limbs, blisters and mild fever.

A case of dragon worm infection (Photo: Getty).

Through examination and testing, doctors determined that the patient was infected with Dracunculus - a rare parasite that can cause serious complications if not treated promptly.

According to a report from the center, from 2021 to present, Vietnam has recorded a total of 24 cases of dragon worm disease, of which Tan Son district alone accounts for 6 cases.

The cases are concentrated in Thach Kiet commune (4 cases), Thu Ngac (1 case) and Long Coc (1 case). The common characteristics of the patients are that they are all male, have the habit of eating raw fish (salad) and using unboiled water - factors identified as the main risk of infection.

Dragonworm disease is caused by the parasite Dracunculus medinensis . When entering the body through water or food contaminated with larvae, adult worms can grow up to 1.2 meters long, living parasitically under the skin and often crawling out through ulcers, causing severe pain, inflammation, and even necrosis if not treated properly.

Notably, there is currently no specific treatment or vaccine to prevent dragon worm disease, making prevention especially important.

Simple but mandatory disease prevention

To avoid infection, Tan Son District Medical Center recommends that people strictly follow the following measures:

- Do not eat raw or undercooked food, especially fish salad, fermented pork rolls, and blood pudding.

- Always eat cooked food and drink boiled water. Never use water that has not been boiled or filtered.

- Maintain personal hygiene, domestic water sources and living environment.

- If there are signs of blisters, unusual swelling and pain in the limbs, or fever of unknown cause, go to a medical facility immediately for examination.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/canh-bao-nhiem-giun-rong-nguy-hiem-do-an-mon-dac-san-goi-ca-20250507061505384.htm