A meningococcal disease cluster in Khanh An Commune, Ca Mau Province, has been brought under control, according to the provincial Centre for Disease Control (CDC).
The outbreak was contained within 10 days of the first detected case, with no additional infections linked to the cluster, the CDC said.
Authorities initially recorded three suspected cases on April 10. Laboratory testing by the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City confirmed two infections, while the third case later tested negative.
The first confirmed patient was admitted to Ca Mau General Hospital on April 7 with confusion, persistent vomiting, neck stiffness and subcutaneous bleeding. Doctors diagnosed suspected meningitis with septic shock, and the patient remains under treatment.
A second patient, admitted on April 8 with high fever, confusion and rapid breathing, quickly deteriorated into a deep coma. The patient, who had underlying conditions, died the following morning from septic shock linked to a gastrointestinal infection.
Epidemiological investigations found that all three cases lived and worked within Cai Tau Prison and had contact with a person who died in mid-March with similar symptoms, though no meningococcal testing was conducted at the time.
Health authorities swiftly carried out contact tracing, environmental disinfection and monitoring. Close contacts were placed under medical observation for 10 days and given prophylactic treatment to prevent further spread.
