Prevent cross-infection to avoid the painful lesson of the 2014 measles epidemic

The measles epidemic is complicated, with some localities recording a high number of cases, and there have been 5 deaths related to measles.

Prevent cross-infection to avoid the painful lesson of the 2014 measles epidemic

The measles epidemic is complicated, with some localities recording a high number of cases, and there have been 5 deaths related to measles.

In this context, Dr. Ha Anh Duc, Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, Ministry of Health, gave recommendations on preventing cross-infection in medical facilities, to limit the risk of disease spread in hospitals.

According to Dr. Ha Anh Duc, medical facilities, especially closed and crowded treatment areas, have a very high risk of cross-infection.

The 2014 measles outbreak resulted in many child deaths, and one of the main causes of this was cross-infection in health care facilities.

However, this risk will be significantly reduced if hospitals strictly follow regulations on classification, admission instructions, treatment, isolation and treatment methods according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health.

One simple but very effective measure is to ensure ventilation in sick rooms, such as opening doors to closed rooms to reduce the risk of spreading.

“The measles virus is airborne and has a strong transmission potential in closed, poorly ventilated rooms. Therefore, cross-infection prevention in hospitals is highly recommended so that medical facilities can identify the problem and proactively apply preventive measures,” Dr. Ha Anh Duc shared.

The 2014 measles epidemic recorded many child deaths, and one of the main causes of this situation was cross-infection in medical facilities. Therefore, the lessons from the 2014 measles epidemic are still very valuable in current prevention work.

Dr. Ha Anh Duc also said that this week the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment will update and issue new guidelines for measles treatment nationwide.

This will be done through training courses for medical facilities, from grassroots level to specialized hospitals, with the aim of classifying patients, admitting and treating them properly to reduce the load on specialized hospitals.

The new guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of measles will add diagnostic tests such as measles IgM, and if the result is negative but clinical symptoms are still suspicious, the test can be repeated after 72 hours or measles PCR can be performed on nasopharyngeal swab specimens.

The new guidelines also list high-risk groups including children under 12 months of age, unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated people, people with congenital or acquired immunodeficiency, severe underlying diseases, severe malnutrition, and pregnant women.

Regarding the issue of medical supplies and drugs for measles treatment, Dr. Ha Anh Duc said that the Ministry of Health has not yet received any specific notices about the shortage of drugs or medical supplies for measles treatment at medical facilities. However, with the new regulations on bidding and procurement, he believes that there will be no problems to worry about.

Dr. Ha Anh Duc also shared important recommendations for medical facilities to minimize the risk of cross-infection, including strengthening isolation work: Ensure clear patient classification, measles patients need to be completely isolated in closed and well-ventilated rooms.

Guidance and training for health care workers: Doctors and health care workers need to be instructed and trained thoroughly on measures to prevent cross-infection, especially in the admission, classification and treatment of measles patients.

Control the hospital environment: Ensure that patient rooms have good ventilation, avoid keeping measles patients in closed rooms, which increases the risk of infection.

Special care for high-risk patients: Patients in high-risk groups need special care to avoid serious illness.

The measles epidemic is evolving in a complex manner, and lessons from the 2014 measles epidemic are still very valuable for current epidemic prevention work.

Controlling cross-infection in healthcare facilities is one of the key factors in limiting the spread of the disease. The Ministry of Health is implementing strong measures, including updating and issuing new treatment guidelines, and requiring hospitals and healthcare facilities to comply with regulations on classification, isolation and treatment of measles patients.

Measles prevention and control will continue to be strengthened, especially in the context of the complicated developments of the epidemic. Medical facilities need to raise awareness and proactively implement strict epidemic prevention measures to protect people's health and stop the spread of the disease in the community.

According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the measles epidemic is on the rise globally in the period 2024-2025.

In 2023, WHO estimates there will be more than 10.3 million measles cases worldwide. Europe and Central Asia will see the highest number of measles cases in 25 years, with 127,350 cases, double the number in 2022.

In the US, measles has resurfaced with 308 cases in 12 states, the highest level since 2019. The main reasons for this increase are low vaccination rates, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and changes in public health policies.

In Vietnam, by early 2025, the epidemic situation was still complicated. The country had recorded more than 45,000 suspected cases of measles, of which more than 7,800 were positive. Notably, the cases were mainly concentrated in provinces with low vaccination rates.

The National Children's Hospital also said that from 2024 to early March 2025, the hospital had received more than 3,100 measles cases, with more than 50% of cases requiring hospitalization. Half of the children with measles in this outbreak were unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated.

In addition, the recorded cases of measles in children under 9 months old - an age that is not eligible for vaccination - also increases the risk of spreading the disease.

Medical experts warn that measles can be transmitted very quickly through the respiratory tract and can only stop spreading when the community immunity rate reaches at least 95%.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/ngan-lay-nhiem-cheo-de-tranh-bai-hoc-dau-long-cua-dich-soi-nam-2014-d255646.html