Diphtheria Outbreaks in Schools in Central Highland Districts, Vietnam, 2015-2018

Noriko Kitamura; Thao T T Le; Lien T Le; Luong D Nguyen; Anh T Dao; Thanh T Hoang; Keisuke Yoshihara; Makiko Iijima; Tran M The; Hung M Do; Huy X Le; Hung T Do; Anh D Dang; Mai Q Vien; Lay-Myint Yoshida

doi:10.3201/eid2603.191027

Diphtheria Outbreaks in Schools in Central Highland Districts, Vietnam, 2015-2018

Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Mar;26(3):596-600. doi: 10.3201/eid2603.191027.

Authors

Noriko Kitamura, Thao T T Le, Lien T Le, Luong D Nguyen, Anh T Dao, Thanh T Hoang, Keisuke Yoshihara, Makiko Iijima, Tran M The, Hung M Do, Huy X Le, Hung T Do, Anh D Dang, Mai Q Vien, Lay-Myint Yoshida

Abstract

During 2015-2018, seven schools in rural Vietnam experienced diphtheria outbreaks. Multilocus sequence types were the same within schools but differed between schools. Low vaccine coverage and crowded dormitories might have contributed to the outbreaks. Authorities should consider administering routine vaccinations and booster doses for students entering the school system.

Keywords: Corynebacterium diphtheriae; Vietnam; bacteria; central highland districts; diphtheria; epidemic; epidemiology; multilocus sequence typing; outbreaks; schools.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Child
Child Health Services
Child, Preschool
Corynebacterium diphtheriae / genetics
Corynebacterium diphtheriae / isolation & purification*
Demography
Diphtheria / epidemiology*
Diphtheria / etiology
Diphtheria / prevention & control
Disease Outbreaks*
Female
Humans
Infant
Male
Multilocus Sequence Typing
Schools*
Vaccination
Vietnam / epidemiology
Young Adult