More than 7,000 people have contracted measles nationwide.

According to the latest information released by the Ministry of Health on April 16th, there are now more than 7,000 cases of measles nationwide.

Pediatric patients receiving treatment at the National Children's Hospital. (Photo: Thuy Giang/Vietnam+)

Dr. Nguyen Van Kinh, a leading expert on infectious diseases and Director of the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, also noted that this year's measles outbreak is complex, with many children under 9 months old contracting the disease and facing a high risk of death.

Currently, the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases is treating over 300 measles patients, 90% of whom are adults. Mr. Kinh said that although the hospital has had many severe measles cases among adults, no deaths have been recorded among adults so far.

Regarding the measles treatment protocol, Mr. Kinh said that on the afternoon of April 15th, the Ministry's expert council on disease prevention and control met and agreed to supplement the general protocols already applied, as issued by the Ministry of Health in 2009, with more specific instructions on using Gamma globulin to boost immunity and resistance (including two types: intramuscular and intravenous injection).

In addition, the healthcare sector is also striving to combine early detection of cases with respiratory complications and encephalitis so that specific treatments can be provided to reduce mortality.

According to the Ministry of Health, in the Asia-Pacific region, Vietnam has not yet eradicated measles, but is currently in the phase of controlling and preventing the disease. Therefore, measles outbreaks still occur annually.

Analyzing the virulence of the virus, Mr. Kinh said that, compared with countries currently experiencing measles outbreaks such as China, Japan, and the Philippines, there has been no change in the measles virus strain.

"However, there is a situation where people are overly concerned and bring all mild cases to the hospital, especially focusing on the top-tier hospital, the National Children's Hospital. When there is such concentration, measles spreads through the respiratory tract, so the more people gather, the greater the risk of the disease spreading," Mr. Kinh warned.

Therefore, this leading infectious disease expert recommends that the number one criterion for preventing this disease is for people to disperse patients and reduce the concentration of large crowds in one area.

Most importantly, people need to wash their hands with disinfectant solutions and boost immunity for those at risk through community vaccination.

According to Vietnam+