Locals urged to take proactive measures to prevent measles

With the sharply increasing number of measles across the country, residents have been asked to take proactive measures against the disease.

According to the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, tbe southern metropolis took the lead in the country in the number of measles cases, with 19,000 since the beginning of the year to December 2, including 8 deaths in Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong and Ben Tre provinces.

The number of measles cases is 56.5 times higher compared to 2023 despite the vaccination rate reaching over 90%.

Meanwhile, Hanoi has also recorded a total of 140 cases across 26 districts so far, with 43 cases under nine months, 21 cases of between nine and 11 months, 23 cases of between 12 and 24 months, 19 cases between 25 and 60 months, and 34 cases over 60 months.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Hong Nhan, head of the Department of Pediatrics - Digestive - Nutrition - Infectious Diseases at Saint Paul General Hospital, said the hospital has received a total of 67 pediatric patients suffering from measles and complications relating to pneumonia since the beginning of October.

Dr. Nhan revealed that young children with measles are more prone to severe illness due to their weak immune system.

She noted that both adults and children must proactively get vaccinated, which is an effective prevention measure against the disease. 

(Source:VOV)