Keeping the body, nose, throat, eyes and mouth clean, ensuring nutrition and keeping the body warm are ways to prevent measles in children - Photo: VGP/HM
According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, from the beginning of 2025 to now, the whole country has recorded about 40,000 suspected measles cases, 5 deaths related to measles; the number of suspected measles cases recorded is highest in the Southern region (57%), Central region (19.2%), Northern region (15.1%), Central Highlands (8.7%).
There is no specific treatment for measles.
Currently, there is no specific treatment for measles. It is the most contagious of all infectious diseases. It is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes and transmission can only be stopped when community immunity reaches at least 95%.
The disease can cause many dangerous complications such as otitis media, pneumonia, diarrhea, corneal ulcers, encephalitis, which can easily lead to death.
Medical experts emphasize that vaccination is considered an effective measure to prevent disease.
To prevent measles, the Department of Disease Prevention, Ministry of Health recommends that people proactively take children from 9 months to 2 years old who have not been vaccinated or have not received 2 doses of measles vaccine to get fully vaccinated on schedule and other age groups (6-9 months, 1-10 years old) to participate in the measles vaccination campaign according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health.
Do not let children get close to or come into contact with children suspected of having measles; wear masks in crowded places, and wash hands frequently with soap when caring for children.
Keep your child's body, nose, throat, eyes and mouth clean every day; ensure nutrition and keep your child's body warm.
Nursery schools, kindergartens, and schools with large numbers of children need to be kept clean, airy, and well-lit; toys, learning tools, and classrooms should be regularly disinfected with common disinfectants.
When detecting signs of suspected measles (fever, cough, runny nose, rash), it is necessary to isolate the child early and take him/her to the nearest medical facility for timely examination and treatment advice.
When detecting signs of suspected measles in children, it is necessary to promptly isolate and take the child to the nearest medical facility - Photo: VGP/HM
Localities must prepare medical supplies and medicines.
Dr. Hoang Minh Duc, Director of the Department of Disease Prevention, Ministry of Health, said that in the coming time, the number of suspected measles rash fever cases will continue to be recorded nationwide, especially in high-risk areas such as mountainous provinces, where many ethnic minorities live, access to medical services is limited and localities have low vaccination rates.
Faced with the complicated and unpredictable developments of measles, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan requested that the People's Committees of provinces and cities prioritize ensuring resources to accelerate the progress of the measles vaccination campaign, especially for children who are not yet old enough to be vaccinated or have not received enough doses of vaccine, which must be completed by March 2025.
The Ministry of Health also requested provinces and cities to review areas with low vaccination rates to organize catch-up vaccinations and ensure that the disease does not spread widely. Localities need to prepare medical supplies, stockpile medicines, and prevent cross-infection of measles at medical facilities.
Previously, to quickly control the epidemic, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued Official Dispatch No. 23/CD-TTg dated March 15, 2025, requesting the Minister of Health to continue directing and supporting localities to accelerate the implementation of the measles vaccination campaign; to end the campaign no later than March 31, 2025.
Recently, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have expressed their appreciation for Vietnam's prompt and drastic measures in responding to the current measles outbreak. At the same time, they pledged to continue supporting Vietnam in controlling the current measles epidemic and preventing the spread of the disease.
Hien Minh
Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/cac-dia-phuong-can-uu-tien-nguon-luc-day-nhanh-tiem-vaccine-soi-102250319133320359.htm
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