Several new cases of diphtheria infection have been confirmed in Vietnam's central highlands region, Vietnam News Agency reported on Thursday.

Specifically, a girl in Gia Lai province has tested positive for diphtheria bacteria, bringing the total cases in the locality to 24 as of Thursday, according to the provincial health department.

A total of nine diphtheria infection cases had been confirmed in Dak Lak province as of Wednesday afternoon, compared to six cases reported a day ago.

The patients have been provided with proper treatment while local authorities have immediately tracked down and tested close contacts of the infected patients, and disinfected their living areas to contain the outbreaks, according to the news agency.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Health on July 9 launched a vaccination campaign against diphtheria, which, in its initial stage, will offer some 10 million doses of vaccines to 4.7 million people in four central highlands provinces, namely Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai, and Kon Tum.