Medical staff take care of a child with measles - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH
On the evening of May 27, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health informed that on May 25 and 26, the city's measles rash fever surveillance system recorded two cases of children with measles, residing in two wards of Binh Tan district.
The main clinical presentation of both children was fever a few days before the rash, accompanied by respiratory symptoms.
Specifically, the first case is a 13-month-old girl, residing in Binh Hung Hoa B ward, Binh Tan district.
The child was admitted to the City Children's Hospital (HCMC) on May 20 with symptoms of fever on the 6th day, runny nose, rash scattered all over the body, red conjunctiva, swollen eyelids, and sore throat.
After examination and testing, the child was diagnosed with measles complicated by pneumonia. The child is being monitored and treated at the City Children's Hospital.
The second case is a 15-month-old boy living in Tan Tao Ward, Binh Tan District. He was admitted to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases on May 24 with symptoms of fever on the 4th day, runny nose, cough with phlegm, diarrhea, and scattered rashes on the ears, eyes, and body.
The baby was diagnosed with measles and pneumonia and is being monitored and treated in the intensive care unit of the hospital. The baby is currently experiencing a high fever, increased cough, and respiratory support.
Immediately after receiving information about these two cases, the Department of Health directed the City Center for Disease Control (HCDC) to coordinate with Binh Tan District Medical Center to investigate the epidemic and deploy disease prevention measures in the community.
According to the initial epidemiological investigation results, no connection has been found between these two cases, and no new cases have been detected in the place where the children live and go to school.
Both children have not been fully vaccinated according to the expanded immunization program schedule and have not been vaccinated against measles. The reason given by the family is that the children often get sick and because the parents work far away, they do not take the children for vaccination.
On May 26, Binh Tan District Medical Center organized measles vaccination in Tan Tao Ward. This vaccination will continue to be implemented in Binh Hung Hoa B Ward and other wards in the district.
The rate of children 18 months old who have received two doses of measles vaccine has not reached the target set by Ho Chi Minh City.
When the expanded vaccination supply situation stabilizes in 2024, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health has deployed mass vaccination at all commune, ward and town health stations across the city to increase vaccine coverage and proactively prevent dangerous infectious diseases for children.
According to the report, by the end of April 2024, the rate of 18-month-old children who had received two doses of measles vaccine for children born in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 was 93.2%; 90.1%; 91.7%, and 93.6%, respectively. This coverage level meets the minimum target required by the Ministry of Health, but has not yet met the target set by Ho Chi Minh City of over 95%.
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health continues to call on parents to take their children to health stations for vaccination. Vaccination is the best way to protect children from the risk of measles. Two doses of measles vaccine are 97% effective in preventing measles.
Children will be vaccinated for free with two doses of measles vaccine at 9 months and 18 months of age under the expanded immunization program at health stations.
In addition to measles vaccination, people should also take note of the following measures to prevent measles:
- Maintain personal hygiene, wash hands regularly and keep your home clean.
- Provide a healthy diet, full of nutrients, maintain a scientific exercise regimen, and practice sports to improve resistance.
- Limit contact with people with suspected measles symptoms such as fever, rash and respiratory infections (cough, runny nose...).
- When you have symptoms of measles rash fever, you need to go to a medical facility immediately for examination and timely treatment.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tp-hcm-co-2-tre-mac-benh-soi-deu-chua-tiem-vac-xin-20240527194510645.htm
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