New cholera patients are still being reported in some northern provinces like Hai Phong, Nam Dinh and Hanoi. The rate of healthy people carrying Vibrio cholerae bacterium is 10-15%, compared to 10% in previous epidemics.
Nguyen Tran Hien, Head of the Central Epidemiology Institute under the Health Ministry, said 100% of cholera patients recorded since late 2007 have had the Vibrio cholerae bacterium, which is a hybrid of classic bacterium (appearing in 1961) and the Entor type, which appeared in the early years of the 20th century.
This type of bacterium is also present in some Asian countries like India, Thailand, Laos and Bangladesh. It gathers the most toxic characteristics of the two above types. Experts don’t know how the bacterium arrived in Vietnam.
Hien said it is difficult to control this bacterium and it periodically spreads in favourable conditions. The current vaccine is effective in around 60% of the people who take it.
Vaccine and Bio-product Company 1 has successfully tested a new cholera vaccine which is effective in 90% of patients. The price of the new vaccine may be 1.5 times higher than the current one. This company has asked for the Health Ministry’s permission to distribute the new vaccine
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