Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The Ministry of Health has asked health departments atall localities to enhance measures to prevent Whitmore disease.

The move was made following the recent increase in the number of Whitmorepatients in the central region.

Central localities are expected to record more Whitmore patients in the futuredue to poor sanitation conditions caused by recent floods which create idealconditions for bacteria to develop.

Whitmore disease, also known as Melioidosis, is caused by Burkholderia Pseudomallei bacillus.These bacteria are found in soil, dirty water or in rice fields and stagnantwater. They can spread to humans and animals by direct contact with sources ofcontamination.

According to the ministry, the disease is rare and does not lead to a pandemicbut it can cause septic shock leading to failure of major organs andin some cases, death, particularly among vulnerable groups.

The ministry required localities, particularly central Nghe An, Ha Tinh, QuangBinh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh provincesto increase supervision to quickly detect new cases of Whitmore.

Local health departments are instructed to take samples of suspected cases orthose at high risks of infecting with the disease for testing to have propertreatment.

They are also asked to actively treat Whitmore patients to minimise the rate offatality.

The health ministry orders local health departments to increase communicationactivities to raise public awareness of the disease and preventive measures.

As many as 28 patients with Whitmore's disease have been hospitalised at theHue Central Hospital from the beginning of October, a sudden increase comparedto previous years, according to the local health department.

About 50 percent of the patients were from Thua Thien-Hue province while therest were from other provinces such as Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and QuangTri.

Many patients arrived at the hospital in late stages of the disease,with sepsis, septic shock or multi-organ failure making treatment difficultand costly, according to the hospital.

Director of Hanoi-based Bạch Mai Hospital’s Centre for Tropical Diseases Do DuyCuong told Vietnamplus  thatthe centre has treated 30 Whitmore patients since early this year. In earlyNovember alone, the centre provided treatment for six patients. Three of themare currently being treated at the centre and they come from northern Son La provinceand central Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces.

Whitmore's disease is mainly caused by bacteria that enters the bodythrough the skin, or people who inhale dust, steam, or drink contaminatedwater, according to Cuong.

At the site of entry they cause pustules that grow depending on the degreeof the case, sometimes a large abscess will develop.

The disease was discovered in Vietnam in the 1950s and is often found in somesouthern provinces. The peak of the disease is recorded during the floodseason, between September and November.

Whitmore's disease is common in people with diabetes, with about 37-60 percentaccounting for the total. The shortest incubation period recorded was one dayand the longest was 62 years.

Most patients with Whitmore have diverse, ambiguous and multiorgan clinicalsymptoms. Diagnosis is easily overlooked and mistaken for other diseases, especiallytuberculosis due to its similar symptoms.

To proactively prevent Whitmore's disease, the Ministry of Health suggestspeople keep up personal hygiene and regularly wash their hands withsoap and clean water, eat cooked food, and do not eat sick poultry oranimals.

People are encouraged to limit exposure to sources of pollution,wear shoes, sandals and gloves when in contact with soil, dirty wateror flood water.

If people have open wounds or sores, it is necessary to avoid contact withheavily polluted soil or flood water.

People with chronic diseases such as diabetes and immunodeficiencyneed care and protection from damage to prevent infections caused by floodwater./.