Prevent outbreaks of whooping cough, measles and other infectious diseases

Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health) Hoang Minh Duc signed and issued an official dispatch to the health departments of provinces and cities requesting to strengthen the prevention of whooping cough and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

According to the Department of Preventive Medicine, since the beginning of the year, the national infectious disease surveillance system has recorded nearly 70 cases of whooping cough, mainly in some northern provinces and cities. In addition, many cases of measles, rash fever suspected of measles and chickenpox have also been recorded sporadically in many places. Currently, the North is experiencing cold, windy, and humid weather, creating favorable conditions for pathogens to develop and spread, increasing the risk of infectious diseases, especially diseases transmitted through the respiratory tract.

Ngăn bùng phát bệnh ho gà, sởi và các bệnh truyền nhiễm- Ảnh 1. — National expanded immunization program provides enough vaccines to prevent 12 infectious diseases, free vaccination for children

In addition, the recent interruption in the supply of vaccines under the expanded immunization program has affected the vaccination rate nationwide; many children are not vaccinated on schedule or have not received enough doses of vaccination, which is a risk factor for the increase in vaccine-preventable diseases.

To proactively prevent whooping cough and vaccine-preventable diseases, the Department of Health recommends that provincial and municipal health departments strengthen monitoring, testing, and early detection of whooping cough and vaccine-preventable diseases in the community and medical facilities; thoroughly handle newly emerging outbreaks. Perform well the work of admitting, treating, providing emergency care to patients, controlling infections and preventing cross-infection in medical facilities; at the same time, closely coordinate with the Institutes of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Pasteur Institute to assess risks in order to propose and implement appropriate and timely epidemic prevention measures.

The Department of Preventive Medicine also requested local health departments to review and organize catch-up vaccinations for those who have not been vaccinated or have not received enough doses of vaccines, focusing on children who have not received enough doses during the period of interruption in the supply of vaccines. Instruct educational institutions, especially kindergartens, preschools, and nurseries to implement disease prevention activities; closely monitor students' health, promptly detect cases with signs of suspected disease and notify medical facilities.

To proactively prevent the outbreak of whooping cough and vaccine-preventable diseases, localities need to promptly and fully report cases and outbreaks to the Ministry of Health; organize inspections and promptly direct disease prevention, focusing on areas with recorded whooping cough cases, places with low vaccination rates, and poor management of vaccination subjects.

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