At an online conference with districts, towns and cities on disease prevention and control in humans, on the afternoon of March 18, a report from the Hanoi Department of Health said: The number of measles cases in the city has tended to increase from the last 2 months of 2024 until now.
Cumulatively from 2024 to March 14, 2025, the whole city recorded 1,446 measles cases. Of which, in 2024 there were 570 cases and in the first 2 months of 2025 there were 876 cases. Patients were recorded in 377 communes, wards and towns of 30/30 districts, towns and cities, mainly concentrated in inner-city districts and neighboring districts.
Most of the patients were under 5 years old (66%) and had not been vaccinated or had not received 2 doses of vaccine (91%). It is worth noting that in 2025, the number of cases increased in the age group of 6-8 months; while the age of vaccination in the expanded immunization program is 9 months old.
Resolute in disease prevention and control, the Hanoi Department of Health has directed units to actively and proactively implement measures to monitor and respond to epidemics. Actively monitor and detect patients with infectious diseases at 68 hospitals located in the city to promptly detect cases of infectious diseases being treated at hospitals, thereby grasping the developments of the epidemic situation and proposing measures to prevent and control epidemics that need to be implemented (Hanoi CDC is in charge of 15 facilities; Health Center is in charge of 53 facilities); coordinate with the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology to conduct pathogen surveillance activities for pathogens such as measles/rubella, polio, hand, foot and mouth disease; monitor environmental sanitation, prevent epidemics in high-risk areas, festival venues; Monitor the health of passengers entering the country at Noi Bai International Airport using body temperature measuring machines and other professional measures to promptly detect suspected cases of infectious diseases entering Hanoi...
In particular, regarding measles prevention, the City People's Committee and the Department of Health have promptly directed units and localities to proactively deploy epidemic prevention and control activities based on the actual epidemic situation, ensuring good control of the epidemic. The city has launched a measles vaccination campaign for children from 6 months to under 9 months old in the area. As of March 13, the vaccination rate for the 2025 campaign in the whole city reached 66%. Districts with low vaccination rates in the campaign include Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung, Nam Tu Liem, Gia Lam, Long Bien... It is forecasted that in the coming time, the number of measles cases will continue to increase, and deaths may even be recorded, especially in children with underlying diseases who are often hospitalized for treatment.
At the same time, the health sector also monitors and proactively detects patients with infectious diseases at 68 hospitals located in the area; monitors the health of passengers entering the country at Noi Bai International Airport to promptly detect suspected cases of infectious diseases entering Hanoi.
Speaking at the conference, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Health Vu Cao Cuong stated that the number of measles cases is on the rise, the vaccination rate for children aged 6 months to under 9 months is still slow. Most of the cases have not been vaccinated or have not been fully vaccinated against measles. It is forecasted that in the coming time, the number of measles cases will continue to increase; the number of hand, foot and mouth disease cases is on the rise according to the annual epidemic cycle; dengue fever will increase in the coming time due to the beginning of the annual epidemic season (from June to November); since the beginning of the year, 3 rabies outbreaks have been recorded in dogs, there is a risk that rabies cases in humans may be recorded in the coming time if people do not fully implement post-exposure prophylaxis measures as recommended by the health sector...
To strengthen disease prevention measures, Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Vu Thu Ha requested localities to proactively grasp the situation based on forecasts and promptly deploy disease prevention measures. In particular, units and localities need to focus on and resolutely implement the measles vaccination campaign for children from 6 to under 9 months old, and by the end of March 31, the campaign must be completed according to the Government's direction (achieving the target of 95%); strengthen strong communication work on mass media so that the measles vaccination campaign is promptly communicated to localities, organizations and people so that they can respond and bring their children to participate in full and on-schedule measles vaccination...
Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Vu Thu Ha also requested localities to step up the prevention and control of dengue fever and other epidemics, and to implement environmental sanitation early, actively implementing the bright - green - clean - beautiful emulation movement that the city has just launched...
Recommendations of the Ministry of Health on measles prevention and control
Measles is the fastest spreading infectious disease, transmitted through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes and 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. There is no specific treatment for measles, vaccination is an effective measure to prevent the disease. To prevent measles, the Department of Disease Prevention, Ministry of Health recommends:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Keep your child's body, nose, throat, eyes and mouth clean every day; ensure nutrition and keep your child's body warm.
4. Nursery schools, kindergartens, and schools with large concentrations of children must be kept clean, airy, and well-lit; toys, learning tools, and classrooms must be regularly disinfected with common disinfectants.
5. When detecting signs of suspected measles (fever, cough, runny nose, rash), isolate the child early and take him/her to the nearest medical facility for timely examination and treatment advice.
Source: https://baophapluat.vn/ha-noi-quyet-liet-trien-khai-chien-dich-tiem-vaccine-soi-cho-tre-post542787.html
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