After floods, be careful with Whitmore disease

On September 26, the Provincial General Hospital recorded a patient in Cam Con commune, Bao Yen district with Whitmore disease. Medical history revealed that the patient had a history of bronchial asthma; on September 14, the patient cleaned mud after the flood without using protective gear, and had skin abrasions. After 1 day, the patient developed a mild fever and a slight cough. Then the fever and cough increased, headache, muscle and joint pain throughout the body, and pustules scattered on both legs and back. On September 23, the patient went to Lao Cai Provincial General Hospital for examination, then was transferred to the Infectious Diseases Department for treatment.

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The patient was tested for the bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei (also known as flesh-eating bacteria, causing Whitmore's disease). This type of bacteria exists naturally in soil and is transmitted mainly through the skin when an open wound comes into direct contact with contaminated soil, mud, or water. There is currently no evidence of human-to-human or animal-to-human transmission of the bacteria. The patient has been transferred to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases for treatment.

Due to the impact of storm No. 3, many localities in the province were flooded and had landslides, so the potential risk of Whitmore disease is very high.

Dr. CKII. Tran Xuan Hung, Deputy Director of the Provincial Center for Disease Control, said: “People need to continue to proactively implement disease prevention measures; proactively and urgently fix water sources so that we have clean water for drinking and daily activities. Clean the environment, disinfect areas at high risk of pollution such as landslides and floods. Proactively prevent disease by taking personal protective measures such as personal hygiene, especially after performing work related to mud and soil. During activities, we should have protective equipment such as boots, masks, gloves and raincoats to protect ourselves well. Increase physical activity and practice to improve health.”

Disinfecting in areas at high risk of contamination such as landslides and floods.

Lao Cai health sector is also strengthening environmental disinfection and water source cleaning to limit the spread of pathogens, improve the effectiveness of disease prevention and control after rain and floods, and protect people's health.

Lan Anh - Hong Tam

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