HCM City’s health department proposes declaring a measles outbreak

A child with measles is treated at the Children’s Hospital No 1 in HCM City. — VNA/VNS Photo Đinh Hằng

HCM CITY — The HCM City Department of Health has recommended the municipal People’s Committee declare a measles outbreak amid the rapid increase in cases within the city and surrounding provinces.

The department has also ordered grassroots healthcare centres to review the vaccination history of patients with congenital or underlying conditions, in addition to vaccination plans for children within the eligible age, as well as their family members.

HCM City’s Centre for Disease Control (CDC) is directed to coordinate with other departments and deploy a monitoring network for infections, vaccinations and communication to prevent the disease.

Hospitals are required to strictly adhere to regulations to prevent cross-infections while ensuring sufficient medical supplies for examination and treatment.

According to HCM City CDC deputy director Lê Hồng Nga, from May 23 to August 12, the city recorded 346 measles cases, about half of them were transferred from other provinces.

Measles infections are also detected in 16 districts of HCM City, with Bình Chánh, Hóc Môn and Bình Tân recording the highest number of cases.

Three deaths due to measles were recorded in the city, all were children aged between four months and seven years old with underlying conditions.

Dr Nguyễn Đình Qui, deputy head of the Infection Department at the Children’s Hospital No 2 in HCM City said that measles is a respiratory disease with rapid transmission following an incubation period of 7-21 days.

“For measles, if we do not take proper preventive, treatment and isolation measures, the risks of an outbreak are very high,” he added.

Initial symptoms include fevers and a rash, which usually starts from the patient’s name and then spreads down their back and their face.

Other signs include conjunctivitis, cough, runny nose and rapid breathing, shortness of breath and seizures in severe cases.

The disease can lead to dangerous complications including pneumonia, encephalitis, otitis media, keratitis, diarrhoea and even fatality, said Qui.

HCM City CDC said that measles can only be brought under control when the community immunity rate reaches 95 per cent, with each person receiving two doses of vaccine.

Children’s guardians should contact the local healthcare stations to learn about the vaccination schedule within the National Expanded Programme on Immunisation.

In case the child has not received or missed the appointments for their doses, they need to be immediately taken to medical facilities for consultation and vaccination. — VNS