First adult measles death recorded in 2025

On April 10, the Institute of Tropical Medicine (Bach Mai Hospital) reported the first death from measles in an adult this year. The deceased patient had measles on the background of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes.

The patient was hospitalized with severe lung complications and required dialysis and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). After 2 weeks of treatment, the patient passed away.

Currently, every day, the Institute of Tropical Medicine receives about 10 to 20 adult patients with measles with symptoms of fever, rash, cough, watery eyes, and runny nose. Many patients have severe progression with complications of pneumonia, respiratory failure, increased liver enzymes, etc. Most have not been vaccinated or have been vaccinated against measles but not given a booster shot.

Measles cases are usually between 30 and 50 years old and subjectively do not think they have measles, so when they go to the hospital, the disease is already serious.

Measles analysts have noted it not only in children but also in adults, especially those with underlying diseases or weakened immune systems.

For adults, when the immune system is reduced, a booster shot is also needed. If you have not been vaccinated or do not remember your vaccination history, you need to get a booster shot of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Measles vaccine is a very safe and effective vaccine, the Ministry of Health has recommended that all children need to be vaccinated and re-vaccinated. Full vaccination not only helps protect yourself but also helps control the disease in the community.

Regarding the measles epidemic, by early April 2025, the whole country had recorded more than 54,000 cases. Previously, the Ministry of Health predicted that the measles epidemic would have a general downward trend, but not stop, and that extreme caution was needed because many cases of rash fever suspected of measles would continue to be recorded in provinces and cities nationwide./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/ghi-nhan-ca-tu-vong-do-benh-soi-o-nguoi-lon-dau-tien-trong-nam-2025-post1026990.vnp