Protect children from the rise of measles

Lam Dong Children's Hospital actively treats measles in children

Since the beginning of 2025, the number of measles cases in the province has increased dramatically. Previously, WHO also warned of the risk of a global measles outbreak in the period 2024 - 2025, mainly due to the decline in measles vaccination rates after the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Lam Dong, from January 1, 2025 to April 9, 2025, the whole province recorded 995 cases of measles, while in the same period in 2024, only 2 cases were recorded. The locality with the highest number of cases was Da Lat city, accounting for 30% of the total cases in the province (297/995 cases) and Duc Trong district, accounting for 25% of the total cases in the province (248/995 cases); of which 62 cases tested positive for measles. In the face of the measles situation in the area, the health sector has actively and proactively implemented many activities to prevent and control measles.

The Department of Health has advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue a plan on infectious disease prevention and control in 2025 in Lam Dong province, many plans to implement disease prevention and control in general and measles in particular in the province. At the same time, organize training and guidance on monitoring, diagnosis and treatment of measles for medical staff in the sector; assign staff of the Medical Affairs Department to directly participate in monitoring and guiding disease prevention and control at units throughout the province. Lam Dong Center for Disease Control and units in the sector regularly receive information on cases from localities, guide and support district and city health centers to investigate and verify cases and monitor cases in close contact with patients. Organize many surveillance campaigns on measles prevention and control in 10 districts and cities in the province. Strengthen the work of triage, diagnosis, treatment, and prepare medicines, medical supplies and equipment for measles treatment.

Implement communication work on measles and rubella on mass media, organize communication sessions at patients' homes, surrounding households and at schools about measles and measures to prevent and control measles. In particular, focus on communication contents such as: Ensuring daily personal hygiene; washing hands regularly with soap; regularly cleaning the nose, throat, and eyes with common antiseptic solutions, especially those in close contact with patients; limit contact with patients; disinfect and sanitize, regularly open windows and main doors to let in sunlight and ensure good ventilation; regularly clean toys and objects of patients with soap or common detergents with clean water; Clean floors, doorknobs, table tops, chairs, public restrooms or surfaces of objects suspected of being contaminated with the patient's nasal secretions with soap or common detergents 1-2 times/day, wear a mask in public places...

In the face of the measles outbreak in Vietnam, the Ministry of Health issued Decision No. 905/QD-BYT dated March 18, 2025 on the implementation plan of the 2nd measles vaccination campaign in 2025, in which the subjects of measles vaccination are expanded to include: Children from 6 months to under 9 months old in risk areas, areas with measles cases and measles outbreaks. Children from 6 to 10 years old who have not been fully vaccinated with measles-containing vaccines as prescribed and children from 1 to 5 years old who have not been fully vaccinated with measles-containing vaccines are given catch-up doses (according to the measles vaccination schedule for children in the regular expanded immunization program: the first dose is given when the child is 9 months old, the second dose is given at 18 months old).

The Department of Health has issued a plan to implement a measles vaccination campaign in Lam Dong province in 2025 and a plan to implement a measles vaccination campaign for children from 6 months to under 9 months, deployed to units in the whole sector to organize measles vaccination for children in the area. The results of the measles vaccination campaign for children from 6 months to under 9 months old were 4,594/4,807 children (reaching a rate of 95.57%); children from 1 to 10 years old were 6,111/6,328 (reaching a rate of 96.57%).

Pharmacist Huynh Thi Phuong Duyen - Director of Lam Dong Department of Health said that in order to continue implementing measures to prevent and control epidemics in general and prevent and control measles, the health sector is continuing to implement the following activities: Continue to strengthen health education communication, implement communication campaigns suitable for each target group so that people are aware of protecting their own health and their families' health, proactively and voluntarily take their children for vaccination according to the vaccination schedule. Strengthen proactive monitoring and timely reporting system, apply information technology to disease surveillance; strengthen surveillance in high-risk areas, schools, and densely populated areas. Continue to review vaccination history and perform catch-up and catch-up vaccinations for children of vaccination age according to regulations to ensure a vaccination rate of 95% or more for children, especially children under 1 year old. Close inter-sectoral coordination, information and activities connection between the Health, Education, Veterinary, Environment sectors and local authorities. Prepare emergency response plans, develop and update flexible epidemic prevention and control scenarios, suitable to the actual situation.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/xa-hoi/202504/bao-ve-tre-em-truoc-tinh-hinh-benh-soi-gia-tang-72f22bd/