According to the Dong Nai Department of Health on November 18, the deceased was H.T.H., an 8-year-old boy from Tam Hoa Ward, Bien Hoa City. The boy had not been vaccinated against measles.
On November 15, H. was taken to Dong Nai Children's Hospital by his family after experiencing persistent high fever, coughing, nasal congestion, and a full-body rash.
Doctors diagnosed him with measles and its complications, including pneumonia, conjunctivitis, and enteritis, and recommended hospitalization.
However, after receiving antibiotics, the family requested to discharge him from the hospital.
At home, H.'s condition worsened, with escalating symptoms of high fever, severe coughing, and difficulty breathing. The family gave him ginger water but did not return him to the hospital.
On the morning of November 17, H. entered a critical state, showing signs of cyanosis and unresponsiveness. Though the family called for an ambulance, the boy succumbed to cardiac and respiratory arrest before reaching the hospital. His death was attributed to severe pneumonia caused by measles complications.
The Dong Nai Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports nearly 1,900 cases of measles have been recorded province-wide since the beginning of the year.
The province currently has approximately 20,000 doses of measles vaccine available, offered free of charge to children aged 1–10.
Families with children in this age group who are unvaccinated or have not received two doses are urged to visit their nearest health clinic for immediate immunization.
Hoang Anh