Hanoi: Measles and hand, foot, and mouth disease outbreaks surge.

Although the first four months of 2025 are not yet over, the number of measles cases in Hanoi has tripled compared to the whole of 2024. Along with that, the number of hand, foot, and mouth disease cases has also doubled compared to the same period last year. Outbreaks of measles and hand, foot, and mouth disease have been recorded in many schools.

On April 17th, the Hanoi Department of Health announced that, from the beginning of 2025 to date, Hanoi has recorded over 1,700 cases of measles (three times the number of cases in 2024). Currently, Hanoi is seeing an average of about 200 new measles cases per week, with an increase in the 1-6 age group, and several measles-related deaths have also been recorded.

Along with that, the number of hand, foot, and mouth disease cases in Hanoi is also increasing, with over 1,000 cases in the first nearly four months of 2025. Monitoring shows that the number of hand, foot, and mouth disease cases has doubled compared to the same period in 2024 and has been trending upwards in the last four weeks (Hanoi has recorded nearly 200 cases per week). Notably, many schools in Hanoi have reported outbreaks of measles and hand, foot, and mouth disease.

The number of children with measles in Hanoi is increasing rapidly.

Given the complex developments of measles and hand, foot, and mouth disease outbreaks, the Hanoi Department of Health has requested the Hanoi Department of Education and Training to direct educational institutions to strengthen communication on measles and hand, foot, and mouth disease prevention; monitor students' health daily, compile statistics on the number of children infected with measles and hand, foot, and mouth disease, and notify local health stations for coordinated isolation and timely treatment.

Educational institutions should coordinate closely with health agencies to organize background checks and administer measles vaccinations to students in accordance with health sector guidelines; strengthen hygiene and disinfection of classrooms, toys, and student supplies to prevent the spread of hand, foot, and mouth disease in schools.

Hanoi calls for increased measles vaccination for children.

Local authorities should proactively organize vaccination programs in accordance with actual conditions, urgently aiming to achieve a vaccination rate of 95% or higher for children aged 1-10 years. The People's Committees of districts, counties, and towns should direct the Health Centers and relevant units to review vaccination history to provide catch-up or supplementary vaccinations for children in their areas who have not received all doses of the measles vaccine, especially those aged 6 to under 9 months and children aged 1 to 10 years; simultaneously, they should review the number of children aged 11-15 years and adults over 15 years who have not been vaccinated or have not received both doses of the measles vaccine to propose measles vaccination.

Healthcare facilities are required to strengthen infection control measures to prevent cross-infection of measles at examination and treatment centers; enhance interdisciplinary and inter-hospital consultations to develop the best treatment plans for patients. Severe cases exceeding treatment capacity should be referred to higher-level facilities for early and safe treatment to minimize measles-related deaths.

NGUYEN QUOC

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/ha-noi-dich-soi-va-tay-chan-mieng-tang-manh-post791037.html