Ministry of Health: Regularly update and communicate about measles epidemic, do not let public opinion panic

The Ministry of Health recommends that localities regularly update information on the epidemic situation so that people can proactively prevent it; at the same time, strengthen propaganda and mobilize children to get vaccinated fully and on schedule.

Ho Chi Minh City health sector organizes measles vaccination campaign for children in the city

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong has just sent an official dispatch to the People's Committees of provinces and cities on strengthening the implementation of measles prevention work.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Health stated that from the beginning of 2024 to now, the number of measles cases has increased more than 8 times compared to the same period in 2023 and tends to increase in some localities. Most recently, Ho Chi Minh City has officially announced a measles epidemic in the city.

To prevent and control measles from spreading and breaking out in the community, the Ministry of Health recommends that localities proactively implement epidemic prevention during the school year and promote measles vaccination.

The Department of Health and local authorities need to continue to closely monitor the development of the epidemic situation; proactively monitor, promptly detect, thoroughly handle outbreaks, regularly assess risks, analyze the situation and propose timely and effective treatment measures.

At the same time, proactively coordinate with Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring localities to share and update information on the epidemic situation and synchronously deploy epidemic prevention measures, not allowing the epidemic to spread and break out in the area.

The Ministry of Health also requested the People's Committees of provinces and cities to direct local media to coordinate with the health sector to regularly update information on the epidemic situation, so that people can proactively take disease prevention measures and avoid panic and anxiety among the public.

At the same time, strengthen propaganda and mobilize children to get vaccinated fully and on schedule, and provide instructions on disease prevention measures, such as: limiting crowded gatherings and regularly washing hands with soap, wearing masks when going to crowded places and public places.

Measles is a group B infectious disease caused by the measles virus. The disease is common in children under 5 years old or can also occur in adults, due to not being vaccinated against measles or not being vaccinated enough.

There is currently no specific treatment for measles. It is easily spread through the respiratory tract through droplets of an infected person or through direct contact, through hands contaminated with the patient's secretions.

According to the Ministry of Health, vaccination is an effective measure to prevent measles and can only cut the spread of measles when the immunity rate in the community reaches over 95%.

MINH KHANG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/bo-y-te-thuong-xuyen-cap-nhat-truyen-thong-ve-dich-soi-khong-de-du-luan-hoang-mang-post756658.html