Measles outbreak on the rise, Ministry of Health requests infection control in hospitals
The Ministry of Health requires medical examination and treatment facilities to properly classify, admit, isolate, and treat patients according to regulations to limit the spread and deaths; at the same time, closely coordinate between medical examination and treatment and prevention work.
The Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, Ministry of Health has issued urgent Official Dispatch No. 1937/KCB-NV on strengthening communication, examination, classification, admission, treatment and control of measles infection in medical examination and treatment facilities to the directors of the Department of Health of provinces and centrally run cities; directors of hospitals under the Ministry of Health; and heads of health of ministries and branches.
 |
| The Ministry of Health requires medical examination and treatment facilities to properly classify, admit, isolate, and treat patients according to regulations to limit the spread and deaths; at the same time, closely coordinate between medical examination and treatment and prevention work. |
Accordingly, in recent months, measles has tended to increase in some localities. For example, in Ho Chi Minh City, the City People's Committee announced a measles epidemic in the area when the number of measles patients coming for examination and treatment at medical facilities increased rapidly, especially at specialized hospitals such as the Children's Hospital, the Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, the Infectious Diseases/Tropical Diseases Hospital, etc.
Pursuant to Official Dispatch No. 116/TTg dated November 14, 2024 of the Prime Minister on strengthening the prevention and control of measles, and the direction of the Minister of Health on strengthening communication, examination, classification, admission, treatment and control of measles infection in medical examination and treatment facilities, the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management requests the Directors of the Departments of Health of provinces and cities; Directors of hospitals under the Ministry of Health;
Heads of Health Ministries and sectors urgently direct medical examination and treatment facilities to strengthen communication to raise awareness and understanding of patients, relatives, staff, etc. about measles prevention and control.
In addition, medical examination and treatment facilities organize patient flow from the moment patients register for medical examination. Arrange separate examination areas for measles patients or those suspected of having measles. At the same time, organize training and implement the Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of measles issued by the Ministry of Health.
In addition, prepare isolation areas, isolation rooms, medicines, medical equipment, supplies, personal protective equipment, and disinfectants for emergency treatment when there are cases.
“Medical examination and treatment facilities must perform well in classifying, admitting, isolating, and treating patients according to regulations to limit the spread and deaths; at the same time, closely coordinate between medical examination and treatment and prevention work,” the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management stated.
Regarding measles, according to Mr. Nguyen Luong Tam, Deputy Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine, the measles epidemic situation is also complicated.
Since the beginning of the year, more than 20,000 suspected measles cases have been recorded, including nearly 5,000 positive cases and 5 deaths in Ho Chi Minh City (3 cases), Ben Tre (1 case) and Binh Duong (1 case). Compared to the same period in 2023, the number of suspected measles cases increased 52.9 times and positive measles cases increased 111 times.
Localities with high numbers of suspected and positive measles cases include Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Nghe An, Dak Lak, Binh Duong, Hanoi, Khanh Hoa, Thanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Can Tho and Dong Thap.
At the National Children's Hospital, from September 1 to November 19, 2024, 195 positive cases were recorded, of which children under 9 months old (not yet old enough to be vaccinated) accounted for more than 31% and children over 9 months old but not yet vaccinated accounted for 40%.
Faced with the risk of an outbreak, vaccination is considered the most effective measure to prevent the spread of disease.
The Ministry of Health has launched a large-scale measles-rubella vaccination campaign in 31 provinces and cities with 376 districts participating. The campaign targets the following groups: Children aged 1-10 years in high-risk areas, with priority given to children aged 1-5 years. Medical staff at health facilities.
To date, the campaign has achieved important results, with 30 provinces and cities having vaccinated more than 742,653 doses out of 912,027 subjects (81.4%) from WHO-aided vaccine sources.
Ho Chi Minh City alone has used 300,000 doses of locally purchased vaccines, enough to vaccinate 230,292 people, reaching 100% of the plan. Of these, 48,322 children aged 1-5, 149,099 children aged 6-10, and 32,871 medical staff and other risk groups have been vaccinated.
The Ministry of Health has allocated a total of 1,134,000 doses of measles-rubella vaccine from WHO aid to 30 provinces and cities.
Ho Chi Minh City alone uses its own vaccine supply. Some provinces such as Khanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan are in need of an additional 56,189 doses and the Ministry of Health has proposed that WHO support an additional 60,000 doses.
In the coming time, according to Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong, the Ministry of Health will continue to direct localities to organize catch-up vaccinations and catch-up vaccinations for children who have not been vaccinated or have not been fully vaccinated.
Strengthen monitoring, inspection and evaluation of campaign progress. Ensure vaccination safety and vaccine effectiveness.
In addition, localities need to step up communication work to raise awareness among the community, especially parents, about the importance of vaccination.
At the same time, strengthen monitoring and treatment capacity at medical facilities to minimize the number of severe cases and deaths due to measles.
Comment (0)