Ho Chi Minh City encounters high risk of measles outbreak
VOV.VN - There is a high risk that a measles outbreak occurring in Ho Chi Minh City could overlap with the spread of existing diseases, including dengue fever and hand, foot, and mouth disease, according to the municipal Department of Health.
The warning was given at an online conference held regarding intensifying disease prevention and control in 2024 for the Southern region held by the Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City.
The most concerning trend at present is the increase in vaccine-preventable diseases such as whooping cough and measles.
Whilst hand, foot, and mouth disease and dengue fever are currently under control, the southern city’s health sector has ongoing concerns about the risk of measles spreading after recording 16 cases.
As of the 23rd week of 2024, the southern city has reported a total of 30 cases of whooping cough, 90% of which are children under five years old, with 44% not yet having reached the age which they can receive the first dose of the whooping cough vaccine.
Furthermore, it has recorded a total of 16 cases of measles, of which 15 cases are children under five, with 85% of those cases not having been fully vaccinated according to the schedule.
The patients are living in districts of Hoc Mon, Binh Tan, Binh Chanh, and District 8.
Amid a high risk of a measles outbreak occurring, the health sector has stepped up vaccinations and catch-up vaccinations against measles for children at health stations.
The Department of Health has therefore advised the municipal People's Committee to issue a plan in a bid to proactively prevent measles in the southern city.
Under the terms of the plan, the city will focus on the early detection of suspected measles and rash fever cases, taking blood samples for testing and conducting epidemiological investigations.
HCM City’s Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital 1, Children's Hospital 2, and the city’s Hospital for Tropical Diseases are therefore responsible for receiving and treating measles patients, while also preventing cross-contamination in medical facilities.
So far, the city has recorded a total of 6,210 cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease.
The cumulative number of dengue fever cases in the southern metropolis as of the 23rd week of 2024 stood at 3,677 with no deaths, whilst the number of cases has decreased compared to the same period from last year.
Moreover 36 monkeypox cases have been recorded in 21 out of 22 districts and Thu Duc city, all of which have been male patients without deaths.
