Cholera outbreak continues spreading north of Vietnam

HANOI, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The northern Thai Binh province of Vietnam reported three individuals had tested positive for cholera, making the 9th locality to report the disease in the north-central region of the country, the Youth reported Monday.

The patients had eaten dog meat while working in Hanoi and showed symptoms of the disease after returning to their hometown, said the provincial Center of Preventive Health.

Although there are no official figures so far, the number of individuals suffering acute diarrhea in Vietnam has been reportedly increased over the past month.

Meanwhile, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology reported samples of dog meat, both cooked and uncooked, from slaughterhouses in Ha Dong district of Hanoi had tested positive for the cholera bacterium.

Vietnam's health officials instructed local agencies to step up early detection of suspected cases to offer timely treatment and prevent the spread of the potentially deadly disease.