What to do to prevent measles from 'attacking' adults?

(PLVN) - People at high risk are those with chronic lung disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, people over 50 years old, especially those with unknown vaccination history and have never had measles, so they should proactively get vaccinated against measles.

Currently, the number of measles cases tends to increase, experts say the number of cases will continue to increase in the coming time. In particular, last week there was a case of an adult with measles that had a serious progression, even death.

Measles is the most contagious of all infectious diseases, and anyone can get measles. It can cause dangerous complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, otitis media, corneal ulcers or diarrhea, and even death.

To minimize the risk of severe progression and death related to measles in groups at high risk of severe progression related to measles, the Department of Disease Prevention, Ministry of Health has issued recommendations for adults, especially high-risk elderly groups (people with chronic lung disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, people over 50 years old, especially those with unknown vaccination history and have never had measles) to proactively get vaccinated against measles.

People at high risk of measles symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, rash must immediately go to medical facilities for examination, timely treatment advice, and to limit serious complications of the disease.

Limit contact with people with measles or suspected measles. If contact is necessary, wear a mask and wash your hands after contact with the patient.

Improve personal hygiene, nose and throat, keep warm, improve physical condition to increase resistance to prevent measles.

Practice good environmental hygiene, keep the working, studying and living environment well-ventilated; regularly clean surfaces in living, working and studying places.

Previously, as reported by Vietnam Law Newspaper , the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Bach Mai Hospital, recorded the first death due to measles in an adult in 2025.

Associate Professor, Dr. Do Duy Cuong, Director of the Institute of Tropical Medicine, said that the deceased patient had measles on the background of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and diabetes. “The patient was hospitalized with severe pneumonia, required dialysis, and ECMO (extracorporeal circulation system), but after 2 weeks of treatment, he still did not survive,” said Dr. Cuong.

According to statistics from the Institute of Tropical Medicine, the unit receives 10 to 20 adult measles patients every day. Most have typical symptoms such as high fever, rash, cough, watery eyes, and runny nose. However, many cases come to the hospital with dangerous complications such as pneumonia, respiratory failure, diarrhea, increased liver enzymes, or even encephalitis - meningitis.

“The common point in many severe cases is that they have never been vaccinated against measles, or were vaccinated as children but not vaccinated again as adults. Most patients are between the ages of 30 and 50, and are subjective because they think measles is a disease of children and can heal on its own,” said Associate Professor, Dr. Cuong.

Notably, from the end of 2024 to now, the Institute of Tropical Medicine has examined and treated 104 cases of measles in adults, of which 5% had severe progression requiring mechanical intervention, 2 cases required invasive mechanical ventilation, and 1 case required ECMO. "The worrying thing is that 75% of patients do not remember whether they have been vaccinated against measles or not," Mr. Cuong shared.

Ngoc Vu

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/can-lam-gi-de-phong-soi-tan-cong-nguoi-lon-post545278.html