Flu has not cooled down, but there is concern about measles outbreak

Notably, most children with measles complications have not been vaccinated, have not received enough doses, or are under 9 months old (not yet old enough to be vaccinated).

Increased measles cases and complications

According to Dr. Do Thien Hai, Head of the Department of General Internal Medicine, National Children's Hospital, the number of children with measles treated here has been on the rise recently. Notably, many children with measles are not yet old enough to be vaccinated.

A case of measles with pneumonia complications is being treated at Hanoi Children's Hospital.

"Although measles is benign, it still has many complications. In the past, common complications were dryness, corneal ulcers, and difficult-to-heal lesions. In recent years, children with measles have had complications such as pneumonia, secondary infections, or severe septic shock...", Dr. Hai informed.

Having a 7-month-old child being treated here, Ms. HTT (residing in Ha Dong, Hanoi) said: "The baby is often sick. After a few days off for Tet, the baby had a high fever, cough and had difficulty breathing, so the family rushed to the hospital. The baby was diagnosed with pneumonia due to complications from measles and had to be hospitalized for treatment."

According to statistics from the Hanoi Center for Disease Control (CDC Hanoi), from the beginning of 2025 to now, Hanoi has detected 441 measles cases, while in the same period last year there were no cases.

In the two weeks after the Lunar New Year, the city recorded 114 measles cases per week. The Hanoi CDC said the number of measles cases remains high, mainly in people who have not been vaccinated or have not been fully vaccinated. It is forecasted that the number of measles cases will continue to increase in the coming time.

Dr. Nguyen Sy Duc, Department of Infectious Diseases, Hanoi Children's Hospital, warned: With the current cold and humid weather, measles is at risk of spreading because this is a disease transmitted through the respiratory tract. The disease is transmitted directly when patients cough, sneeze, or talk, causing tiny droplets containing the virus to spread into the air. Especially children who do not have antibodies will be easily infected. With a rapid spreading mechanism, measles can easily cause complex outbreaks.

Speed ​​up the "measles 0" shot

Mr. Khong Minh Tuan, Deputy Director of CDC Hanoi, said that according to statistics, in Hanoi, the age group under 9 months infected with measles accounts for over 20%. This is a group that is not old enough to be vaccinated against measles under the National Expanded Immunization Program, while maternal antibodies in children may decrease below the protective level.

Therefore, in order to increase immunity and contribute significantly to preventing measles epidemics, from now until the end of February, Hanoi will launch a measles vaccination campaign for children from 6 months to under 9 months old, instead of waiting until they are 9 months old as usual. It is expected that about 20,000 children in this age group will receive 1 dose of vaccine.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the monovalent measles vaccine can be given to children from 6 months to under 9 months of age during outbreaks as an enhanced measure to prevent epidemics. This vaccine is considered the "0 measles" shot. After that, children continue to be vaccinated with two doses of measles vaccine according to the Expanded Immunization Program schedule at 9 months and 18 months of age.

"Parents need to take their children to get the measles vaccine fully and on schedule. In addition, people need to proactively implement disease prevention measures such as: Personal hygiene, regularly washing hands with soap, wearing masks when going to crowded places, cleaning the environment, keeping the house clean and airy...", Mr. Tuan recommended.

Dr. Do Thien Hai also assessed that measles vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the disease for young children. For children who have a runny nose or cough when scheduled for vaccination at the local vaccination sites, parents should not postpone the vaccination but should go to the hospital vaccination sites for advice to ensure the safety of vaccination for their children.

Dr. Nguyen Sy Duc said that measles is common in children, sometimes appearing in adults. Even adults with measles often have symptoms such as fever, inflammation of the respiratory tract, then a rash from the face, chest spreading to the lower body...

For patients with measles, if not detected and treated promptly, it can lead to many dangerous complications such as: pneumonia, otitis media, acute diarrhea, encephalitis, laryngitis, severe malnutrition...

Along with measles, Hanoi has also recorded an increase in many other infectious diseases such as seasonal flu, hand, foot and mouth disease, Covid-19, whooping cough...

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/cum-chua-giam-nhiet-lai-lo-bung-phat-dich-soi-19225022021123223.htm