42 cases of measles have been recorded.

On March 19th, the Ministry of Health sent a document to the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities regarding strengthening measles prevention and control efforts.

The Ministry of Health, citing information from the World Health Organization (WHO), stated that the WHO recently issued a warning about the increasing number of measles cases and the risk of measles outbreaks in many regions worldwide.

According to WHO data, in Europe, the number of measles cases in 2023 was over 300,000, more than 30 times higher than in 2022. In the Western Pacific region, the number of measles cases increased by 255% from 2022 to 2023.

According to the WHO, in Vietnam, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the disruption of vaccine supply in the Expanded Immunization Program in 2023 have affected the vaccination rate of children nationwide. Many children have not been vaccinated on schedule or have not received all the necessary doses in recent years, posing a risk factor for outbreaks of diseases, including measles.

According to the Ministry of Health, data from the infectious disease reporting system indicates that since the beginning of the year, 42 scattered cases of measles and suspected measles rash have been recorded in 13 provinces and cities; no concentrated outbreaks have been detected.

To strengthen disease prevention and control efforts and minimize the risk of measles outbreaks in the coming period, the Ministry of Health requests the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities to direct relevant units to strengthen surveillance and early detection of measles cases in the community and in medical examination and treatment facilities; and to implement thorough measures to handle outbreaks immediately upon detection of cases.

Simultaneously, continue to implement regular monthly vaccination programs for beneficiaries of the Expanded Immunization Program, including measles vaccination for 9-month-old children and measles-rubella vaccination for 18-month-old children; Review and organize catch-up vaccinations for beneficiaries of the Expanded Immunization Program who have not yet been vaccinated against measles, paying particular attention to areas with low vaccination coverage.

In addition, the Ministry of Health requested provinces and cities to strengthen propaganda activities about the risk of measles and preventive measures, and to encourage people to take their children for full and timely vaccination with vaccines in the Expanded Immunization Program to proactively prevent infectious diseases that can be prevented by vaccines.

According to the Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health), measles is a contagious respiratory disease caused by the measles virus. To proactively prevent measles, the Department of Preventive Medicine recommends that people:

Parents should proactively bring their children aged 9 months who have not been vaccinated against measles, or those aged 18 months who have not received both doses of the measles vaccine, to the commune or ward health station for vaccination.

When symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, and rash are detected, children should be taken to the nearest medical facility as soon as possible for timely examination and treatment to prevent complications and severe progression of measles. It is advisable to avoid taking children to large hospitals to prevent the spread of measles.

Measles is highly contagious, so keep children away from and avoid contact with children suspected of having measles. Wash hands frequently with soap when caring for children and ensure they receive adequate nutrition.

Source: https://dangcongsan.vn/y-te/da-ghi-nhan-42-ca-mac-benh-soi-661588.html