55 schools in Ho Chi Minh City have recorded measles cases since the beginning of the year.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Tam, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control, reported at the meeting - Photo: THU HIEN

On the afternoon of September 18, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee held a meeting on the measles epidemic situation in the area, attended by the Department of Health, Department of Education and Training; medical centers of districts, and Thu Duc City.

At the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Hong Tam - Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control - said that from the 37th week (September 9 to 15), the measles epidemic in the Southern region is still increasing very rapidly, with 11 out of 20 Southern provinces having a high increase in the number of measles cases.

In Ho Chi Minh City, there were 83 hospitalizations recorded this week, a slight increase (4%) compared to the average of the previous 4 weeks, with the total number of cases accumulated since the beginning of the year being 614.

There have been 10/22 districts with the number of new cases increasing compared to the average of the previous 4 weeks such as Thu Duc, Cu Chi, District 5...

Regarding the epidemic situation in schools, week 37 recorded 9 schools in 6 districts with new measles cases, one school less than the previous week.

Accumulated from the time of measles cases (May 22) to now, there have been 55 schools in 16/22 districts with measles cases. Of which, 25 schools have ended monitoring and 30 schools are still being monitored.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training said it has directed educational institutions across the area to proactively take epidemic prevention measures.

The Department of Education and Training of districts advises on activating the epidemic prevention steering committee at the unit.

During the week, there were 9 schools with measles cases, including localities with a high number of cases, despite having the highest measles vaccination rate, such as Binh Chanh district.

The Department of Education and Training requested local leaders to coordinate with local educational institutions to pay attention to and support measles prevention and vaccination campaigns.

Dr. Nguyen Vu Thuong, deputy director of the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, said that from week 32 onwards, the rate of increase in measles cases in the city has decreased, proving that the measles vaccination campaign has been effective.

The health sector needs to continue reviewing the list of children in the community to fully implement measles vaccination, avoiding omissions, especially among high-risk groups.

Trying to achieve the target of ending the measles epidemic by the end of October

Concluding the meeting, Ms. Tran Thi Dieu Thuy - Vice Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee - said that the health sector needs to continue reviewing the list of children in the community to fully implement vaccination, avoiding any omissions.

In addition, it is necessary to increase vaccine coverage in Binh Chanh, Hoc Mon, Cu Chi, etc. At the same time, promote communication so that parents can take their children for vaccination, especially in suburban residential areas.

Ms. Thuy hopes that the city will achieve the goal of declaring the end of the measles epidemic by mid-October 2024.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/55-truong-hoc-tai-tp-hcm-ghi-nhan-co-ca-benh-soi-tu-dau-nam-den-nay-20240918151126685.htm