As the measles outbreak continues to escalate across Vietnam, top Hanoi hospitals have admitted both children and adults in critical condition, with the unvaccinated making up the majority of severe cases.

A Ministry of Health task force reported a concerning rise in measles cases during their Thursday visits to major hospitals in Hanoi to inspect screening, triage, and treatment systems for measles patients.

At the Vietnam National Children’s Hospital, nearly 2,700 measles patients have been recorded since 2024, including 1,894 cases in the first quarter of 2025.

According to Cao Viet Tung, the hospital’s deputy director, about 60 percent of the patients were either unvaccinated or too young to receive the vaccine.

Each day, the hospital sees up to 90 suspected measles cases, with some days exceeding 100.

Tung said the hospital already set up triage systems from the outpatient department and is preparing to handle more cases and support lower-tier hospitals if the outbreak worsens.

Since 2024, the hospital has reported 13 measles-related deaths, often among children with complicated underlying conditions such as pneumonia, premature birth, metabolic disorders, or meningitis.

Tung expressed his concerns about overcrowded wards, a shortage of standard isolation rooms, and difficulties in the triage process due to space limits.

Moreover, measles symptoms are often atypical, making diagnosis more challenging. Close contact within families further complicates infection control.

Since late 2024, Bach Mai Hospital’s Center for Tropical Diseases has treated 104 measles patients, many in serious condition.

Among them, two required mechanical ventilation and one needed ECMO support. Alarmingly, 75 percent of the patients were unsure of their vaccination status.

Do Duy Cuong, director of the Center for Tropical Diseases, said the center receives 10 to 20 adult measles patients daily, some with severe complications such as pneumonia, respiratory failure, elevated liver enzymes, diarrhea, or even encephalitis. Most cases involve individuals who were either unvaccinated or had missed booster shots.

Cuong emphasized that measles spreads rapidly through respiratory droplets and has one of the highest infection rates among communicable diseases.

Immediate isolation is crucial once diagnosed, he said.

He noted that about five percent of hospital cases involve severe complications requiring mechanical ventilation, dialysis, or intensive care -- especially in patients with chronic illnesses or weakened immunity.

Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan urged hospitals to prepare for all outbreak scenarios. 

Facilities must develop contingency plans for isolating and treating patients based on outbreak scale and severity. 

He stressed the need to coordinate department capacity and infection control to reduce cross-contamination risks if the epidemic escalates.

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