In recent months, measles has tended to increase in some localities such as Ho Chi Minh City and the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has announced a measles epidemic in the area.
The number of measles patients coming for examination and treatment at medical facilities is increasing rapidly, especially at specialized hospitals such as Children's Hospital, Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital, Infectious Disease/Tropical Disease Hospital, etc.
On November 29, Dr. Ha Anh Duc - Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management (Ministry of Health) signed a document to send to the Directors of the Department of Health of provinces and centrally-run cities; Directors of Hospitals under the Ministry of Health; Heads of Health of Ministries and branches on strengthening communication, examination, classification, admission, treatment and control of measles infection in medical examination and treatment facilities.
The Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management requests the directors of the Departments of Health of provinces and centrally-run cities, directors of hospitals under the Ministry of Health, heads of health departments of ministries and branches to urgently direct medical examination and treatment facilities to strengthen communication in medical examination and treatment facilities to raise awareness and understanding of patients, relatives, staff... about measles prevention and control: such as the current epidemic situation, signs, symptoms, infection prevention...
Organize patient flow from the moment the patient registers for medical examination. Arrange a separate examination area for measles patients or people suspected of having measles.
Organize training and implement the Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of measles issued by the Ministry of Health.
Prepare isolation areas, isolation rooms, medicines, medical equipment, supplies, personal protective equipment, and disinfectants for emergency treatment when there are cases.
Implement well the classification, admission, isolation and treatment according to regulations to limit the spread and death.
Close coordination between medical examination and treatment and prevention work.
Since the beginning of the year, Vietnam has recorded more than 20,000 suspected measles cases, including nearly 5,000 positive cases and 5 measles-related deaths (3 in Ho Chi Minh City, 1 death in Ben Tre and Binh Duong each). Compared to the same period in 2023, the number of suspected measles cases is 52.9 times higher, and the number of positive measles cases is 111 times higher.
Notably, many children under the age of vaccination have contracted measles. Some localities with high numbers of suspected measles and positive measles cases are Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Nghe An, Dak Lak, Binh Duong, Hanoi, Khanh Hoa, Thanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Can Tho, and Dong Thap.
At the National Children's Hospital from September 1 to November 19, 2024, 195 positive measles cases were recorded. Of which, there were 41 cases in September, 90 cases in October, and especially in 11 days of November, there were 64 cases. Of which, the rate of infection in children under 9 months (not old enough to be vaccinated against measles) accounted for more than 31%, with children over 9 months old, the rate of unvaccinated children accounted for up to 40%.
