Ho Chi Minh City establishes rapid response team to prevent measles in schools

Rapid response teams are in place to handle outbreaks in schools until the vaccination campaign reaches over 95% coverage of children aged 1-10 years.

According to a report by the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC), after 1 week of school, 5 primary schools in 4 districts in Ho Chi Minh City recorded measles outbreaks (2 cases or more).

Therefore, it is extremely necessary to quickly detect and handle newly emerging outbreaks. To do this, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health has decided to establish 12 rapid response teams in districts and Thu Duc City.

The health station is conducting epidemiological investigation and surveillance at the school.

This is an urgent measure to effectively deal with measles outbreaks in schools, where there are many students at high risk of infection.

According to the Department of Health, each team will include 2-3 members from HCDC and 1 member from hospitals such as: Tropical Diseases Hospital, Children's Hospital 1, Children's Hospital 2 or Children's Hospital City.

The rapid response teams will monitor the epidemic situation, implement response activities and monitor outbreaks. At the same time, they will guide schools and local health stations to implement measures to prevent measles.

Specifically, when a case of measles or suspected measles is detected, the school's medical staff must immediately report to the Head of the local health station. The Head of the health station records, evaluates and sends staff to the scene to coordinate handling and preliminary investigation of the situation.

“If an outbreak is detected at a school, the Head of the health station must immediately report to the health center, then activate a rapid response team to go to the school to coordinate with local health authorities to monitor and handle the outbreak,” the Department of Health informed.

To ensure effectiveness, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health also requested the Department of Education and Training and the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs to direct their affiliated facilities to strictly comply with measles prevention and control measures. When detecting a case of measles or suspected measles, facilities must immediately report to the health station to receive timely support.

In addition to accelerating the measles vaccination campaign at schools, establishing a rapid response team is an important solution in Ho Chi Minh City's measles response strategy, aiming to protect public health and ensure a safe learning environment for children in the context of the complicated measles epidemic.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/tphcm-thanh-lap-to-phan-ung-nhanh-phong-chong-dich-soi-tai-truong-hoc-d224952.html