HCM CITY — Healthcare facilities in HCM City have reported many cases of measles among children, most of whom have not been vaccinated.

Trương Hữu Khanh, head of HCM City’s Paediatrics Hospital No 1’s infectious and nervous diseases system department, said the symptoms of the children, who were mostly from other provinces, included high fever, coughing, rash, and pneumonia.

The hospital has also received three children under nine months old suffering from measles.

The city’s Paediatrics Hospital No 2 has received 25 cases of children with a fever and rash since August, with 15 of those testing positive for measles, including eight babies under nine months old.

Nguyễn Trí Dũng, head of city’s Preventive Medicine Centre, said that only five of the measles cases in the city since the beginning of the year were from children who live in HCM City. 

The city’s Department of Health has directed units to carry out measures to prevent an outbreak of measles.

A doctor of HCM City’s Paediatrics Hospital No 1 attends to a measles patient. — VNA/VNS Photo

The department has told hospitals to quarantiine patients and provide separate treatment areas for these cases to limit cross-contamination.

In addition, hospitals must provide protective equipment for health workers, patients and visitors.

The city’s Preventive Medicine centre, along with district authorities, will continue to carry out measures to prevent measles, and encourage parents to vaccinate their children on schedule.

Parents must vaccinate their children when they are nine and 18 months old.

Parents and family members should also protect themselves and wash their hands before and after childcare.

Children who have a rash or fever should be taken to healthcare facilities.

Measles, which is a highly infectious disease that can spread quickly and cause an outbreak, is the leading cause of death in children, especially for children under three years old. — VNS