Vietnam: Measles spike in Lam Dong province
On April 11, the leader of Lam Dong Department of Health said that since the beginning of the year, the number of measles cases in the province has increased dramatically, with 995 cases, while in the same period in 2024, only 2 cases were recorded.
Da Lat city recorded the highest number of measles cases, with 297 cases, accounting for 30% of the total cases in the province followed by Duc Trong district with 248 cases.
The main reason for the increase in cases is the decrease in measles vaccination rate after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Director of Lam Dong Department of Health Huynh Thi Phuong Duyen said that in the face of the sudden increase in measles cases in the area, Lam Dong health sector has actively and proactively implemented many disease prevention and control activities. Specifically, many measles prevention and control monitoring campaigns have been organized in 19 districts and cities in the province; the work of classification, diagnosis and treatment has been strengthened; and medicines, medical supplies and equipment for measles treatment have been prepared.
At the same time, expand the subjects of measles vaccination to include children from 6 months to under 9 months old in risk areas, areas where measles cases/epidemics are occurring. Children from 6 to 10 years old who have not been fully vaccinated with measles-containing vaccines according to regulations and children from 1 to 5 years old who have not been fully vaccinated with measles-containing vaccines are given catch-up doses (according to the measles vaccination schedule for children in the regular expanded immunization program, with the first dose given when the child is 9 months old, the second dose given again at 18 months old).
Continue to strengthen health education communication, carry out communication campaigns suitable for each target group so that people are aware of protecting their own health and that of their families, and proactively and voluntarily take their children for vaccination according to the vaccination schedule.