According to the Hanoi Center for Disease Control, recent weeks have seen sporadic measles cases. For example, last week, the city had 4 measles cases, including 2 unvaccinated cases; the week before that, there were 7 cases, including 5 unvaccinated cases. Since the beginning of 2024, Hanoi has had 17 measles cases; of which 11 cases have occurred in the last 2 weeks alone. The number of measles cases has increased compared to the same period in 2023.
The measles epidemic is also complicated in localities such as Dak Lak, Can Tho, Khanh Hoa... According to the Ministry of Health, the number of measles cases this year has increased sharply, as of September, the number of measles cases has increased 8 times compared to 2023.
Faced with the risk of measles spreading and breaking out, localities are quickly implementing vaccination to ensure community immunity and prevent diseases for children according to the Ministry of Health's measles vaccination campaign plan.
In Hanoi alone, the Hanoi Department of Health has reported that the city has about 70,000 subjects eligible for vaccination, including children aged 1-5 years old and medical staff at risk at medical examination and treatment facilities treating measles patients who have not received enough doses of vaccination as prescribed.
The campaign aims to have over 95% of children aged 1-5 who have not received enough doses of measles-containing vaccine as prescribed to be vaccinated with 1 dose of measles-rubella (MR) vaccine. The campaign will be implemented in all 579 communes, wards and towns of 30 districts, towns and cities of Hanoi.
Hanoi began implementing the measles vaccination campaign from October 14. To ensure the safety, effectiveness and quality of the campaign, the Hanoi Department of Health has established 3 inspection teams to evaluate the organization and implementation of the vaccination campaign in districts, towns and cities.
Faced with the risk of measles outbreaks in many localities, the Ministry of Health recommends that localities continue to closely monitor the development of the measles epidemic; proactively monitor, detect early, thoroughly handle outbreaks and regularly assess risks, analyze the situation and propose timely and effective treatment measures.
Regarding the risk of measles this year, Mr. Hoang Minh Duc, Director of the Ministry of Health, said: As early as 2023, the World Health Organization warned about the risk of measles outbreaks, including in Vietnam. In particular, measles is very contagious, and the risk of measles spreading in schools is very high.
Vaccination is currently an effective measure to prevent the disease. The transmission of measles can only be stopped when the immunity rate in the community reaches over 95%.
According to Mr. Hoang Minh Duc, the measles vaccination campaign is different from the catch-up and catch-up vaccination plans that have been implemented, and the vaccination target group has been expanded.
The Department of Preventive Medicine recommends that people regularly update information on the epidemic situation, proactively vaccinate their children fully and on schedule according to the instructions of the health sector and implement disease prevention measures such as limiting crowded gatherings, regularly washing hands with soap, and using masks when going to public places and crowded areas.
Currently, there is no specific treatment for measles. It is easily transmitted through the respiratory tract through droplets of infected people or through direct contact, through hands contaminated with secretions of infected people. Crowded places such as public places, schools... have a very high risk of spreading measles.
