High measles risk looms over Ho Chi Minh City
Wednesday, July 10, 2024, 16:01 GMT+7
Ho Chi Minh City used the World Health Organization (WHO) measles risk assessment tool to support measles elimination efforts and identify high-risk areas in the southern metropolis, with the results showing that it is at very high risk of outbreaks, said a local health official.
Le Hong Nga, deputy head of the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC), said that the city needs to quickly adopt measles preparedness and response measures to prevent possible outbreaks.
She added that measles cases have been reported in the city.
To ensure early detection, prevention, and treatment of measles cases, the municipal Department of Health has asked healthcare facilities citywide to team up with HCDC to collect samples of all patients with measles-like rashes for testing.
Children’s hospitals citywide have received a rising number of patients with measles. This requires health authorities to quickly intensify control and prevention measures, including replenishing its measles vaccine stocks.
Du Tuan Duy, head of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Neurology at Children’s Hospital 1, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Monday that his department was providing treatment for 20 child patients with measles who had been mostly transferred from other provinces.
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| The Department of Infectious Diseases and Neurology at Children’s Hospital 1 in Ho Chi Minh City is providing treatment for 20 child patients with measles. Photo: Xuan Mai / Tuoi Tre |
The current number of measles cases at the department is much higher than a year ago, the doctor added.
At Children’s Hospital 2, children enduring dengue fever and hand, foot, and mouth disease account for most of the patients there, according to Nguyen Dinh Qui, acting head of the hospital’s Department of Infectious Diseases.
The department has also admitted many child patients with measles and whooping cough, Qui continued.
He elaborated that the hospital set up separate zones for measles patients to prevent cross infection, for measles is among the diseases transmitted through the air and droplets.
Qui also warned of some complications of measles and whooping cough, such as pneumonia.
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