The first two cases were Do Trat Dat, 36, and Thai Anh Dung, 31, who both are working at a warehouse at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Tan Binh district. The other case was Vuong Van Tam, 80, living in the same district.

Another patient, Nguyen Hai Hai, 31, living in district No2, has been suspected of contracting the bacteria.

Currently, all are in stable condition at the Gia Dinh People’s Hospital.

Le Truong Giang, vice director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health (DoH), said the first vibrio cholera case was detected on July 1 and the municipal and district Preventive Health Centres have isolated and sterilised the surrounding areas.

He said the DoH has asked Tan Binh district to inspect food at market and street food stalls and urged all local health centres to strengthen preventive measures, control water sources and food, and disseminate information about the disease and sanitation. The department has also directed medical units to take blood samples of all suspected cases and report acute diarrhea cases to the centres daily.