Recently, the number of children with measles hospitalized in Ho Chi Minh City has continuously increased. Notably, the city's hospitals have recorded up to 3 deaths related to measles.
Faced with the rapid increase in the number of measles cases in Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health has directed many measures to control the spread of the disease in the area and control the number of cases of serious complications. and death.
According to MSc. Nguyen Dinh Qui - Deputy Head of Infection Department - Children's Hospital 2 in Ho Chi Minh City, measles is not a new infectious disease but is still toxic and strong enough to cause major epidemics when vaccination and prevention measures are used. Other precautions are not guaranteed.
Facing the complicated developments of measles, localities in Ho Chi Minh City also urgently thoroughly handle this outbreak.
Thu Duc City has had measles outbreaks, most of whom have not been vaccinated or have not been vaccinated enough to prevent measles.
Management of children of vaccination age in Binh Chieu ward (Thu Duc city) also faces many difficulties due to the complex area, bordering Binh Duong province and frequent population fluctuations.
MSc. Doctor. Le Hong Nga - Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control - suggested that localities need to review children's vaccination history to make up for measles vaccination, especially for children living in boarding houses and dormitories. warmth, open houses, social protection facilities.
At the same time, promote communication activities and mobilize maximum participation of the network of community health collaborators in epidemic prevention work.
Previously, the Department of Health also submitted to the City People's Committee a proposal to declare a measles epidemic and at the same time, implement a response plan.
Regarding prevention, M.D. Nguyen Dinh Qui recommends that parents check their children's vaccination records and immediately get a single dose of measles vaccine when the baby is 9 months old or a combination dose (Measles - Mumps - Rubella). ) when the child is 12 months old and note that it is necessary to repeat the 2nd dose to ensure enough immunity is created to protect the child.
At the same time, standard precautions include wearing masks in crowded places, when going to at-risk areas, when taking care of sick children, and washing hands.
Isolate children when confirmed to have measles until the 5th day of the skin rash.
