13 Aug 2024 | 11:36 AM UTC
Vietnam: Elevated measles activity reported in Ho Chi Minh City in August
Elevated measles activity reported in Vietnam, specifically Ho Chi Minh City, in August. Obtain vaccination; use basic health precautions.
Health officials have reported elevated measles activity in Ho Chi Minh City, with 201 cases (116 confirmed cases) reported since Jan.1. The city reported only one confirmed measles case between 2021-2023. Most patients (66 percent) were either unvaccinated or had not received both doses of the measles vaccine, while 30 percent had an unknown vaccination history. Health officials are coordinating disease control efforts and advising a new vaccination campaign for children aged 1-5. This report represents the most complete data available as of Aug. 13.
Visit a doctor to ensure vaccination against measles or immunity through previous infection. Practice basic health precautions. Call your medical provider if symptoms develop within three weeks of being in affected areas.
In 2023, the first dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) coverage among 1-year-olds in Vietnam was 82 percent, below the WHO-recommended 95 percent required to prevent wider community transmission.
Measles is a very contagious viral disease that spreads through respiratory droplets created when an infected individual coughs, sneezes, or speaks. Infected individuals can also expose people around them by contaminating surfaces with secretions from the nose, mouth, and throat. Symptoms typically appear 7-14 days after exposure but can develop up to 21 days after exposure. Symptoms generally include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a red rash that begins on the face and spreads downward. Serious complications - including pneumonia - can occur, especially in children younger than five years old, adults older than 20 years old, and individuals with a weakened immune system.
