By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

Health officials in Kon Tum Province in the Central Highlands region of Vietnam are reporting 12 diphtheria cases since early June.

Image/CDC

At least one death has been reported in a nine-year-old girl from Đắk G’long District, She was unvaccinated.

Vice chairwoman of the province People’s Committee Trần Thị Nga said local authorities isolated people who had close contact with the patients or those suspected to have the disease.

She said local authorities also increased communication and called on people to get fully vaccinated to prevent diseases for themselves and the community.

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Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial disease that primarily infects the throat and upper airways, and produces a toxin affecting other organs. The disease has an acute onset and can result in low grade fever, difficulty in breathing, swollen glands in the neck and the toxin, in severe cases, may cause heart failure, paralysis, and even death. Transmission occurs from person to person through close respiratory and physical fluid contact. Diphtheria is fatal in 5-10% of the cases, with a high mortality rate in young children. Vaccinations are recommended for its prevention.