Measles epidemic in Nghe An is forecast to develop complicatedly, with the risk of widespread outbreak.
At this time, measles cases in Nghe An have not stopped. Preventing and fighting measles is an urgent task.
Measles epidemic returns
From the beginning of the year to June 22, 2024, Nghe An province recorded 45 cases of measles scattered in 11 localities, including: Vinh city (18 cases), Nghi Loc (5 cases), Nam Dan (4 cases), Do Luong (2 cases), Hung Nguyen (7 cases), Quynh Luu (1 case), Quy Hop (2 cases), Yen Thanh (2 cases), Tan Ky (1 case), Thanh Chuong (1 case) and Dien Chau (2 cases).
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After detecting the cases, the Nghe An Provincial Center for Disease Control and medical centers conducted an epidemiological investigation. The results showed that: Due to many reasons, the majority of measles cases were not vaccinated or had not received enough doses of measles vaccine. Of these, 16 cases were not old enough to be vaccinated, 15 cases were old enough to receive the first dose, only 4 cases had been vaccinated (26.7%); 12 cases were old enough to receive the second dose, only 1 case had been vaccinated (0.83%); 2 cases were adults.
Measles is an acute infectious disease caused by a virus. The disease is transmitted from person to person through the respiratory tract. Measles is common in young children and people with weak immune systems, and can easily lead to complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, otitis media, diarrhea, etc., which can be fatal.
In 2014, Nghe An had a measles outbreak with nearly 300 cases in the first 4 months of the year. To prevent and combat the epidemic, Nghe An has stepped up vaccination. Thanks to that, the measles epidemic has been pushed back, with cases gradually decreasing each year.
In fact, the return of measles is not entirely unexpected and has been predicted by all levels and sectors. The underlying cause of the return of the epidemic is the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on expanded immunization activities, with people delaying vaccination in general. Along with that, from 2023 to early 2024, the whole country in general experienced disruptions in the supply of vaccines under the Expanded Immunization Program. These two reasons have reduced the rate of vaccination coverage in the community.
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According to the Nghe An Province Center for Disease Control: It is forecasted that the measles epidemic is developing complicatedly with many risks of widespread outbreaks. In addition to the situation of sporadic cases appearing in many localities, increasing the source of disease transmission in the community, there is a risk of cross-infection in medical examination and treatment facilities, potentially forming outbreaks here and possibly spreading to the community.
Active prevention and control
Dr. Chu Trong Trang - Director of Nghe An Provincial Center for Disease Control said: Regarding measles prevention, since the beginning of the year, Nghe An Department of Health has issued 9 documents directing and guiding on measles prevention and control. Implementing the direction of the Department of Health, the Provincial Center for Disease Control has coordinated with medical centers and hospitals to investigate suspected cases, collect samples for testing, verify information, conduct epidemiological investigations; isolate, contain, handle; and synchronously deploy epidemic prevention activities.
The Center has also organized a risk assessment of measles in the whole province for each district, town, and Vinh city and developed a measles prevention plan; evaluated and reviewed the vaccination rate of measles vaccines in the locality to have a basis for developing a catch-up and catch-up vaccination plan; organized training and assigned targets for monitoring suspected measles/Rubella rash fever to localities; strengthened communication work on prevention and control of measles, infectious diseases, and the benefits of vaccination.
It is known that at this time, Nghe An Health Department is actively strengthening surveillance to promptly detect suspected cases of the disease; stepping up screening of children in the whole province, vaccination history and implementing catch-up vaccination, measles and measles-Rubella vaccination; directing medical centers to investigate, verify information, organize zoning, blockade, and handle epidemics in localities with recorded cases and strengthen full vaccination activities of vaccines in the expanded immunization program.
Direct public and non-public medical examination and treatment facilities to strictly implement the classification, isolation and treatment of infectious diseases according to regulations, deploy effective measures to prevent and combat cross-infection; strictly implement the work of statistics and reporting of infectious diseases.
Disease prevention and control is an urgent task.
Measles prevention and control in Nghe An, on the afternoon of June 24, the Ministry of Health's working delegation led by Dr. Nguyen Luong Tam - Deputy Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine worked with the Nghe An Department of Health to inspect the treatment and prevention of measles at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital and Vinh International Hospital.
During the working session with the Ministry of Health's working group, Nghe An's health sector requested the Department of Preventive Medicine and the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (Ministry of Health) to pay attention and allocate enough vaccines in the expanded immunization program for the province. Currently, Nghe An is lacking DPT (diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus) and tetanus vaccines for pregnant women; allowing to continue to vaccinate children according to the instructions of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology this year.
During the working session with the Nghe An Provincial Department of Health and related units, Dr. Nguyen Luong Tam - Deputy Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine - Ministry of Health stated: The number of cases has not stopped. Preventing and controlling measles in Nghe An is an urgent task of the health sector.
The provincial preventive health system, communes, wards and medical examination and treatment facilities need to promptly monitor, detect and treat cases early. The Department of Health and medical centers conduct investigations, verify information, organize zoning, containment and epidemic handling in localities where cases are recorded and increase the vaccination activities with all vaccines in the expanded immunization program. Hospitals need to establish a Steering Committee for measles prevention and control, with the participation of the board of directors and doctors, infectious disease experts; have specific prevention and control plans.
It is known that on June 26, the Ministry of Health will continue to organize a working delegation led by Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Lien Huong to work with the Nghe An Department of Health and direct the work of preventing measles.
Doctors recommend:
- It is necessary to proactively bring all children of vaccination age from 9-24 months who have not been vaccinated or have not received 2 doses of measles vaccine to vaccination facilities to be vaccinated against measles.
- When detecting signs of fever, cough, runny nose, rash, take children to medical facilities early for timely examination and treatment to prevent complications and serious progression of measles.
- Measles is highly contagious, do not let children get close to or come into contact with children suspected of having measles. Regularly apply preventive measures such as washing hands frequently with soap when caring for children, ensuring nutritional measures and other preventive measures as recommended by health authorities.
- Strictly follow the doctor's treatment instructions. Do not rush to take the patient to a higher level hospital for treatment to avoid cross-infection and opportunistic infections.