11 Oct 2024 | 09:47 AM UTC
Vietnam: Elevated measles activity reported in Ho Chi Minh City in October /update 2
Elevated measles activity reported in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in October. Obtain vaccination; use basic health precautions.
Health officials have reported elevated measles activity in Ho Chi Minh City, with an additional 323 cases reported Sept. 1-Oct. 6, bringing the total case count to 967 since Jan. 1. The city reported 141 cases in the first week of October, a 60 percent rise from the previous four-week average. In previous years, the city reported only one confirmed measles case between 2021 and 2023. Affected districts include Thu Duc City, Cu Chi District, Binh Chanh District, Binh Tan District, Tan Phu District, District 12, Hoc Mon District, Tan Binh District, District 1, District 4, Binh Thanh District, Can Gio District, Nha Be District, and Phu Nhuan District. Local health officials launched a measles vaccination campaign on Aug. 31. Following a month of implementing the measles vaccination campaign, the coverage rate for two doses of the measles vaccine among children aged 1-5 years has reached the safety threshold of 95 percent. This report represents the most complete data available as of Oct. 11.
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.
