School suspends boarding after four meningococcal cases

Hai Ba Trung Secondary School has suspended its boarding services, implemented disinfection procedures, and is taking students' temperatures after four cases of meningococcal disease were detected, resulting in one fatality.

Principal Vo Minh Ty announced on the afternoon of 19/10 that the decision was based on recommendations from the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control. Other school activities are continuing as normal.

This morning, the Department of Health and the Department of Education and Training conducted an on-site inspection at the school, emphasizing disease prevention and control measures. According to a leader from the Student Affairs Department of the Department of Education and Training, all parties agreed not to switch to online learning, as the meningococcal disease situation is currently well under control.

Due to the suspension of boarding services, many parents arrived at the school gate from 10:20 am to pick up their children. Mai, a parent with a child in grade 7, stated that homeroom teachers have been continuously updating information on class groups in recent days. The school advises students to wear masks while at school and to have their temperature taken and hands sanitized before entering classrooms.

"I feel a bit more at ease now that my child has been vaccinated. Before that, I was quite worried", Mai shared.

Nhi's family also had their child vaccinated and adjusted their work schedules to personally pick up and drop off their children twice a day. Nhi acknowledged that it is more challenging for both parents and children, but views it as a safe solution given the current situation.

By the afternoon of 17/10, Hai Ba Trung Secondary School had recorded four students infected with meningococcal B, with one fatality. Immediately after the first case was hospitalized, the health sector administered prophylactic antibiotics to close contacts and carried out a thorough cleaning and disinfection of the entire school.

Meningococcal disease spreads through respiratory droplets via close contact and can progress rapidly, causing septicemia or meningitis. Contact with a patient does not necessarily mean infection. Individuals experiencing symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, vomiting, stiff neck, confusion, unusual fatigue, or petechiae (small red spots) should seek immediate medical attention.