Dong Nai records first case of meningococcal meningitis in 2025

Vaccination against meningococcal disease for children at the provincial Center for Disease Control. Photo: Hanh Dung

On April 16, female patient NTL, (37 years old, a worker at a wood workshop in Tan Hoa ward, Bien Hoa city), had a fever of 39 degrees Celsius, headache, nausea, and was taken to the emergency room at Thong Nhat General Hospital.

Here, the patient was diagnosed with suspected meningococcal sepsis and a blood sample was taken and sent to the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City. The test results showed that the patient was positive for meningococcal bacteria. To date, the patient is still being treated at the hospital.

Epidemiological investigation by authorities showed that the patient had not been vaccinated against meningococcal disease and had not come into contact with anyone with similar symptoms or people with meningococcal disease.

The patient lives with her husband and two children in Lo Duc Hamlet, Ho Nai 3 Commune, Trang Bom District. Currently, family members, 17 neighbors who had close contact with the patient, and 6 workers working at the same wood workshop with the patient have not recorded any unusual symptoms.

Ho Nai 3 Commune Health Station has also made a list of cases in close contact with the patient to guide treatment with prophylactic antibiotics.

Specialist Doctor I Ho Thi Hoa, Head of the Department of Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, Provincial Center for Disease Control, said that meningococcal meningitis is a dangerous acute infectious disease that progresses very quickly. The disease causes serious damage to the meninges and central nervous system and can directly threaten the patient's life if not detected and treated promptly. The disease often occurs suddenly with a series of symptoms such as severe headache, fever, nausea and vomiting, stiff neck, red, purple or dark brown rash.

After recording the case, the Provincial Center for Disease Control, Trang Bom District Medical Center, Ho Nai 3 Commune Medical Station and Ho Nai 3 Commune People's Committee have disseminated measures to prevent and control meningococcal meningitis to people around the area where the patient lives and works. These include proactively getting vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis; eating nutritious food; if there are any unusual signs, go to a medical facility for immediate examination; limit crowded gatherings, do not come into contact with sick people or people suspected of having the disease; practice good personal hygiene and clean living places...

Hanh Dung

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/y-te/202504/dong-nai-ghi-nhan-ca-benh-viem-mang-nao-mo-cau-dau-tien-trong-nam-2025-bf92124/