According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hundreds of thousands of measles cases are still reported each year from many countries around the world.
Measles is a contagious respiratory disease caused by the measles virus. This is one of the infectious diseases that has been known since very early in human history and is also a disease that has been included in the vaccination schedule of many countries in the world since the birth of the vaccine.
 |
| Children and adults need to proactively get vaccinated against measles fully and on schedule to help the body produce specific antibodies against the measles virus. Photo: Chi Cuong |
The disease is characterized by fever, respiratory tract inflammation, conjunctivitis and rash, which can lead to many complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, otitis media, corneal ulcers, diarrhea... which can be fatal.
Measles also affects the body's immune system, which can cause the body to forget how to defend itself against infections and leave the child weak and susceptible to illness.
Unvaccinated children, malnourished children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are at risk of serious complications if they get measles.
Anyone can get measles, but it mainly affects children under 5 years old. Children who are not vaccinated or not fully vaccinated are the first target of measles and become a "bridge" to infect those around them, including adults who have not been vaccinated against measles before, children who are not old enough to be vaccinated against measles, and people who have been fully vaccinated with 2 doses. Only when the immunity rate in the community reaches over 95% with 2 doses of vaccine can the measles epidemic be controlled.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of measles cases are still reported from many countries around the world. According to data published on the WHO Immunisation data portal, from 2000 to 2016, the number of measles cases globally has shown a clear downward trend; however, from 2017 to 2023, there have been years when the number of reported cases increased sharply, such as 873,373 cases in 2019 and 663,830 cases in 2023.
In the first 7 months of 2024, many countries and continents have also strongly warned of the increase in measles. According to the report on May 28, 2024 by WHO and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), in 2023, 61,070 cases of measles and 13 deaths were reported in 41 out of 53 countries in the European region; but in the first 3 months of 2024, 56,634 cases of measles and four deaths were officially reported in 45 countries in this region.
In the United States, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of August 8, 2024, there were 211 measles cases reported from 27 states in the country; while in the whole of 2023, only 59 cases were reported.
In Vietnam, according to the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (issued in 2007), measles is classified in Group B, which includes dangerous infectious diseases that can spread quickly and cause death, along with dengue fever and hand, foot and mouth disease. Measles is also one of the six infectious diseases included in the expanded immunization program since its early implementation in the 1980s.
Up to now, measles is still one of the 11 infectious diseases that require mandatory vaccination for children according to the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases with a vaccination schedule according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health, including the first injection when the child is 9 months old and the second injection when the child is 18 months old. The Vietnamese Ministry of Health stipulates that all cases of rash fever suspected of measles must be reported and samples taken for definitive diagnostic testing.
According to statistics from the Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City, by the end of July 28, the whole region had 1,147 cases of rash fever suspected of measles reported, of which 481 cases tested positive (confirmed cases); the number of rash fever cases suspected of measles increased 5.5 times compared to the same period in 2023.
According to reports from hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City, as of August 4, 2024, there were 505 cases of rash fever suspected of measles, of which 262 tested positive; more than 50% were cases from other provinces and cities coming to the City for examination and treatment.
In Ho Chi Minh City alone, there were 201 cases of suspected measles rash fever, of which 116 tested positive. Meanwhile, from 2021 to 2023, the entire city had only 01 positive test case.
The entire city has 48 wards and communes in 14 districts with confirmed measles cases; 8 districts have 2 or more wards and communes with cases. Of the 116 confirmed cases, 27.6% are children under 9 months old, 78.4% are children under 5 years old. The number of patients who have not been vaccinated or have not received 2 doses of measles vaccine accounts for 66% and up to 30% have unknown vaccination history.
During this outbreak, the city's hospitals have recorded up to 3 deaths related to measles. The Ho Chi Minh City Health Department is actively responding to the measles epidemic and calling on every family with children to get their children vaccinated according to the announcements of the local health department where they live; people living with patients with underlying diseases should get vaccinated to help protect their loved ones.
To reduce the risk and prevent a resurgence of measles, WHO emphasizes that vaccination is the only way to protect children and adults from this potentially dangerous disease. Countries around the world are required to achieve and maintain a coverage rate of over 95% with 2 doses of measles vaccine.
Doctor Bui Thi Viet Hoa, Safpo/Potec vaccination system, said that children and adults need to proactively get vaccinated against measles fully and on schedule to help the body produce specific antibodies against the measles virus, helping to prevent the risk of measles and severe complications, with outstanding effectiveness of up to 98%.
In addition, according to Dr. Viet Hoa, each person needs to proactively clean their eyes, nose, and throat with antiseptic solution every day. Limit gathering in crowded places, avoid close contact with people showing signs of measles or suspected of having the disease, and do not share personal items with people with the disease. Keep your living space clean and supplement foods to help strengthen the immune system.
If you experience symptoms of measles (fever, runny nose, dry cough, red eyes, sensitivity to light, rash all over the body), you should quickly go to the nearest medical center or facility for timely examination and treatment.
Source: https://baodautu.vn/dich-soi-nguy-co-hien-huu-can-hanh-dong-ngay-d222392.html
Comment (0)