Hanoi authorities worry over measles outbreak

Local health officials in Hanoi are worried about the outbreak of a new measles epidemic as nearly 33,000 children have not been vaccinated.

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At the conference about winter disease prevention in the northern region for 2017-2018 period held on November 3, Nguyen Nhat Cam, director of Hanoi Preventive Medicine Centre, said 45 measles cases had been reported this year with one death. The number of measles cases sharply increased in September and October in 21 districts. As of now, four to five new cases are reported every week.

Tran Nhu Duong, head of the management board of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation in the north, said as of October, 50% of the 99 measles cases reported were in Hanoi. Even though there has been no noticeable outbreak yet, cases are widespread so the authorities need to apply more preventive measures.

Local health officials are reviewing unvaccinated children under five years old in November and will organise immunisation sessions every week. However, the officials also raised concerns that 43% of the patients are children under nine months old so it's difficult to prevent the infection.

Duong suggested village leaders and communal authorities to immediately review the number of unvaccinated children in their areas and hold immunisation sessions so that the measles vaccination rate will reach 95% and 90% for the measles-rubella vaccination rate.

Since early 2017, Vietnam has recorded 230 measles cases. Vietnam National Children's Hospital receives 50 children each day.

Dr Do Thien Hai said measles primarily occurred in winter. "The cool and humid weather this time of the year is ideal for many diseases," he said.