Number of measles cases still decreasing slowly in Ho Chi Minh City

According to information from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, from October 14 to 20 (week 42), Ho Chi Minh City recorded 131 measles cases, an increase of 23.3% compared to the average of the previous four weeks.

There are still many children who have not received two doses of measles vaccine. Photo: My Quynh.

The total number of measles cases accumulated from the beginning of 2024 to week 42 is 1,192 cases. Districts with high numbers of cases include: Binh Chanh district, Binh Tan district and Thu Duc city.

Explaining the slow decrease in measles cases despite the fact that Ho Chi Minh City has been implementing a measles vaccination campaign for children aged 1 to 10 for over a month, the Department of Health said that there are still children who have not received two doses of measles vaccine .

Therefore, measles cases in this age group may still appear sporadically but do not cause large epidemics.

According to the Department of Health, measles can occur at any age if not fully vaccinated. According to statistics, up to 23% of patients are children under 9 months old, not old enough to be vaccinated against measles according to the expanded immunization schedule, and 18% are people over 10 years old, not the target of vaccination in the campaign.

The Department of Health requires localities to continue screening children who have not been vaccinated against measles for vaccination.

The Department of Health has sent a document to the competent authorities asking for opinions on expanding the scope of measles vaccination and will implement it as soon as approved. At the same time, it requires localities to continue to review and update information on children in the area and organize vaccination invitations.

Measles is an acute infectious disease caused by the measles virus, which is transmitted from person to person through the respiratory tract. Anyone who has not been vaccinated or has not received two doses of the measles vaccine is susceptible to measles.

In week 42, Ho Chi Minh City recorded 482 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease, an increase of 5.2% compared to the average of the previous 4 weeks. The total number of hand, foot and mouth disease cases accumulated from the beginning of 2024 to week 42 is 13,769 cases. Districts with high number of cases per 100,000 people include Binh Chanh district, Nha Be district and District 8.

The city also recorded 521 cases of dengue fever, up 20.1 percent from the average of the previous four weeks.

The total number of dengue fever cases accumulated from the beginning of 2024 to week 42 is 9,268 cases. Districts with high number of cases per 100,000 people include District 1, Thu Duc City and District 7.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/so-ca-mac-soi-van-giam-cham-o-tphcm-192241024173739172.htm