Vietnam Faces Alarming Surge in Suspected Measles Cases: Government Takes Action!

HANOI – In a startling public health emergency, Vietnam has reported nearly 40,000 suspected cases of measles and five fatalities related to the disease since the start of this year. The Ministry of Health (MoH) anticipates a continuous rise in cases, particularly in high-risk areas such as mountainous regions where access to healthcare is severely limited, as well as in localities with low vaccination rates.

An Escalating Crisis

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan highlighted the challenges posed by climate and seasonal changes, which complicate the outbreak's trajectory. She urged local health departments to closely monitor and swiftly report new developments. Emphasizing a comprehensive approach, she called for the engagement of various sectors beyond healthcare to combat this epidemic.

Local areas were advised to ensure that medical facilities, equipment, and supplies are prepared, especially in areas identified as high-risk. The southern region has been disproportionately affected, reporting over half of the cases (57%), followed by the Central region (19.2%), the North (15.1%), and the Central Highlands (8.7%).

Regions seeing a spike in suspected cases include Cao Bằng (582 cases), Nghệ An (737), Quảng Nam (499), Đà Nẵng (2,043), Khánh Hòa (1,661), Đắk Lắk (621), Gia Lai (1,879), Kon Tum (624), Đồng Tháp (1,202), An Giang (1,046), and Lâm Đồng (476).

The demographic hit hardest by this outbreak consists mainly of children aged nine months to under 15 years, which account for 72.7% of the cases. Alarmingly, the vaccination coverage is reported to be low; in some provinces, it is as dismal as 40%, failing to establish adequate community immunity against measles.

Prime Minister Issues Urgent Vaccination Directive

In response to the escalating measles threat, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has officially directed an urgent push towards accelerating vaccinations against measles in Official Dispatch No 23/CĐ-TTg. He has mandated the Minister of Health to oversee and support local health units in launching an intensified vaccination campaign to be completed by the end of this month.

The health sector is tasked with ensuring adequate supplies of measles vaccines, guaranteeing prompt distribution to local jurisdictions. Additionally, medical facilities are instructed to prioritize the treatment of measles patients and suspected cases while collaborating with the Ministry of Finance to secure sufficient funding for vaccination efforts.

Local governments are urged to evaluate the measles situation in their areas and develop appropriate plans based on MoH's guidelines. Health educators and community leaders must effectively implement expanded immunization programs, particularly targeting individuals who missed vaccinations.

To amplify preventive measures, educational institutions are encouraged to follow health guidance, monitor student health diligently, and ensure parents are aware of vaccination requirements.

The Ministry of Education and Training will play a pivotal role in facilitating health education within schools. Meanwhile, media outlets have been tasked with disseminating accurate and timely information regarding the outbreak to keep the public informed and engaged.

Deputy PM Lê Thành Long will oversee the implementation process, addressing any challenges that may arise and reporting significant issues to the Prime Minister.

The growing measles crisis serves as a reminder of the importance of vaccination and health preparedness, especially in vulnerable communities. With government action and community cooperation, there is hope to contain and ultimately eradicate this preventable disease.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing situation!