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According to the Ministry of Health, meningococcal infection has been spreading in five cities and provinces throughout the country, including Ho Chi Minh City. Local Health Authorities have notified the school about the spread of the disease. At this time, SSIS, does not have any confirmed cases of students infected with meningococcal. In an effort to proactively help prevent any cases of infection and outbreak, please read the health alert and contact a doctor or the nurses’ office if your child has any of the symptoms below.
Health alert : Meningococcal Infection spreading in Viet Nam
What is meningococcal infection?
Meningococcal infection is caused by bacteria (germs) called meningococci, also known as Neisseria meningitidis. Meningococci bacteria are the one with the potential to cause large epidemics. Twelve serogroups of these bacteria have been identified, and six of which (A, B, C, W135, X and Y) can cause epidemics.
Meningococci bacteria commonly cause:
- Meningitis: infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord
- Septicaemia: infection in the bloodstream
Both these infections are medical emergencies and fatal in 50% of cases in untreated.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms are stiff neck, high fever, sensitivity to light, confusion, headaches and vomiting, haemorrhagic rash (red-purple pinprick spots or larger bruises) and rapid circulatory collapse.
Transmission
The bacteria are transmitted from person-to-person through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions from carriers (infected persons). Close and / or prolonged contact – such as kissing, sneezing or coughing, or living in close quarters with an infected person (a carrier) facilitates the spread of the disease. The average incubation period is four days, but can range between two and ten days.
Prevention
- Maintain high level of personal hygiene.
- Wash hands frequently with soap and running water or sanitizer.
- Avoid touching mouth, nose, and eyes.
- Never share drinking or eating utensils with the others.
- Vaccines against some strains of meningococcal infection are available for persons at age 02 and older.
References
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs141/en/
http://www.hpa-standardmethods.org.uk/documents/bsop/pdf/bsop51.pdf
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Meningococcal_disease
The SSIS Nurse‘s Office
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