Request Vinh city to accurately check the number of measles patients

On the morning of February 1, Nghe An Department of Health, Provincial Center for Preventive Medicine, Vinh City Medical Center, Vinh City Health Department had an extraordinary working program with 2 health stations of Hung Dung and Ha Huy Tap wards - 2 areas with a high number of children with measles in January 2019.

In January 2019, at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, 169 children with measles in Vinh city were treated. Photo: Son Thanh

In January 2019, Vinh city continued to be the "measles epicenter" in Nghe An. Statistics from Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital showed that: Of the 250 hospitalized measles patients, 169 were in Vinh city. Measles was present in 21/25 wards and communes of Vinh city. Wards and communes with a high number of patients were Hung Dung (19 patients), Ha Huy Tap (18), Vinh Tan (15), Le Loi (15), Le Mao (12), Ben Thuy (11), Doi Cung (10)...

The statistics from Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital are considered to be only a very small “tip of the iceberg” of the measles situation in Vinh City. There are many other children with measles who are being treated at Vinh City General Hospital, or are being treated at home, but have not been counted.

The Department of Health delegation worked with Hung Dung Ward Health Station. Photo: Thanh Chung

Reporting to the working group, Hung Dung Ward Health Station said: The total number of permanent and temporary residents in the ward is 22,400 people. The rate of children in the age group vaccinated against measles in the ward is only 74.5%. In January 2019, there were 3 children with measles in the area who have now been cured.

Report of Ha Huy Tap Ward Health Station: The total population of the ward is 25,617 people. The rate of children vaccinated against measles in 2018 in the ward reached 98%. In January 2019, 36/38 children of the right age were vaccinated against measles; to date, there have been no suspected cases of measles.

During the working session with 2 medical stations, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hong - Deputy Director of Nghe An Department of Health requested: Vinh City Medical Center and Vinh City Health Department to urgently advise Vinh City People's Committee to issue a plan to implement the Measles - Rubella vaccination campaign in accordance with the Plan issued by the Provincial People's Committee in February 2019.

The Center and the Department direct the medical stations to strictly implement the directive of the Department of Health on measles prevention by accurately checking the number of children in Vinh city with measles; promoting communication work by various means about measles for the people; promoting vaccination activities, reducing the infection rate; doing a good job of regular reporting; paying attention to treatment with the goal of having no deaths./.