A Whitemore patient (Photo: Internet)
The patient, hailing from the north-central province of Thanh Hoa, passed away one month after contracting the disease.
Recently, the central region also recorded an increase in the number of Whitmore infections due to poor sanitation conditions caused by floods which serve to create ideal conditions for bacteria to develop.
Whitmore’s disease is caused by Burkholderia Pseudomallei bacillus that can be found in soil, dirty water, or in rice fields and stagnant water. It can spread to humans and animals by direct contact with sources of contamination.
Burkholderia Pseudomallei bacillus enters the body through the skin, or people who inhale dust, steam, or drink contaminated water. It can cause pustules that can potentially grow depending on the degree of the case, with a large abscess occasionally developing.
According to the MoH, the disease is rare and cannot lead to a pandemic, although it can cause septic shock leading to failure of major organs and in some cases, death, particularly among vulnerable groups.
To proactively prevent the further spread of the disease, the MoH required all localities, particularly central provinces, to increase surveillance to quickly detect new cases.
Local health departments were instructed to take samples of suspected cases or those at high risk of infection for testing, allowing them to receive proper treatment swiftly.
They were also asked to actively treat Whitmore patients to minimise the rate of fatality.
The MoH also ordered local health departments to increase communication campaigns in a bid to raise public awareness of the disease and preventive measures.
It suggested that people keep up personal hygiene and regularly wash their hands with soap and clean water, eat cooked food, and not eat sick poultry or animals.
People are encouraged to limit their exposure to sources of pollution, wear shoes, sandals, and gloves when in contact with soil, dirty water, or flood water.
If people have open wounds or sores, it is necessary to avoid contact with heavily polluted soil or flood water.
People suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes and immunodeficiency require care and protection from damage to prevent infections caused by flood water.
