Nghe An records nearly 1,100 cases of rash fever suspected of measles
Nearly 40,000 suspected measles cases have been recorded nationwide; there have been five deaths related to measles. Nghe An has also recorded nearly 1,100 cases of rash fever suspected to be measles.
On the afternoon of March 15, the Ministry of Health held a national online conference on measles prevention. The conference took place in person and online, connecting the Ministry of Health with provincial, municipal and affiliated units nationwide.
Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan chaired the conference. Dr. Le Thi Hoai Chung - Director of Nghe An Department of Health chaired the Nghe An bridge; also attending were representatives of the departments and offices of the Department of Health, leaders of the Provincial Center for Disease Control, hospitals and medical centers in the province.
38,807 suspected measles cases, 5 deaths
Since the beginning of 2025, the country has recorded 38,807 suspected measles cases in 63 provinces and cities, including 3,447 positive cases in 61 provinces and cities; 5 deaths related to measles. The cases are concentrated in the Southern region (57%), Central region (19.2%), Northern region (15.1%), Central Highlands (8.7%)...
According to the Ministry of Health, measles is likely to increase from the end of 2024 and continue to increase in the first months of 2025. The majority of cases are in children aged 9 months to under 15 years (72.7%)... Measles patients have not been vaccinated against measles or have unknown vaccination status (accounting for more than 95%). The disease is mainly recorded in large cities with high population mobility. However, there is currently an increasing trend in mountainous areas.
In Nghe An, since the beginning of the year, the whole province has recorded 1,081 cases of rash fever suspected of measles in 19/20 localities, with no deaths. Localities with high numbers of suspected measles cases include: Ky Son district with 526 cases, Vinh city with 204 cases and Tuong Duong district with 115 cases... In Ky Son and Tuong Duong districts, cases appeared more frequently after the Lunar New Year.
in Nghe An. Photo: Thanh Chung
Information from the Nghe An Center for Disease Control: The appearance of a large number of rash fever cases suspected of measles is due to the low vaccination rate in some mountainous districts, so measles epidemics are still likely to break out. Although some localities have a high vaccination rate of 95%, there is still a 5% unvaccinated rate that accumulates each year, creating an immunity gap. The vaccination rate in some localities does not meet the requirements at the commune level.
There are some changes in community immunity, especially the group of children under 9 months who have not yet reached the expanded vaccination schedule but still get sick, accounting for 15.4%. The group of children who have received 2 doses of expanded vaccination but still get sick, accounting for 2.4%.
Measles is transmitted very quickly through the respiratory tract, 90% of people who are not immune will get the disease if they come into close contact with a measles patient and on average 1 infected person can infect 12-18 other people and the transmission can only be stopped when community immunity reaches at least 95%.
The disease can cause many dangerous complications such as otitis media, pneumonia, diarrhea, corneal ulcers, and even encephalitis, which can easily lead to death. The disease is especially serious in young children and malnourished children.
Increase vaccination to prevent disease
At the conference, the departments, offices and hospitals of the Ministry of Health provided guidance on measles prevention and control; admission and treatment; and solutions to strengthen measles vaccination. Representatives of provinces and cities also reported and shared their local measles prevention experiences.
Concluding the conference, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan stated: With the characteristics of rapid spread (more than COVID-19), we cannot be subjective withpandemicMeasles. Measles vaccine is extremely important, we need to effectively implement the measles vaccination campaign to repel and limit the spread of the disease.
Measles prevention and control is a shared responsibility of all levels and sectors, in which the health sector plays a key role. In the coming time, the People's Committees of provinces and cities need to review and fully implement vaccination activities; accelerate the measles vaccination campaign; fully vaccinate all subjects, leaving no unvaccinated subjects behind, especially in key areas; flexibly organize vaccination forms, organize vaccination right at the facility, even on holidays.
Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan requested: The Department of Health of provinces and cities proactively propose to the People's Committees of provinces and cities to allocate resources to implement vaccination campaigns and epidemic prevention solutions; prioritize vaccination in areas with many cases; fully prepare facilities, equipment, and medical supplies, especially in high-risk areas to immediately handle the epidemic; mobilize the participation of departments and branches; strengthen remote prevention and treatment; promote communication about the benefits of vaccination... Quickly control the measles epidemic, minimize cases of infection and death; ensure all children have the right to health care and disease prevention.
being treated at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital. Photo: Thanh Chung
Following the direction of the Minister of Health, in the coming time, Nghe An will continue to strengthen monitoring and early detection of suspected measles cases; continue to promote measles vaccination for children from 6 to under 9 months old and children who have not been vaccinated or have not received enough doses of measles vaccine; strengthen communication work with various forms on measures to prevent infectious diseases, especially measles; focus on mobilizing people to take their children to get vaccinated against measles as well as vaccines in the expanded immunization program; minimize cases./.
