On March 29, Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan signed an emergency document sent to hospitals and health departments across 63 provinces and cities, outlining measures for triage, admission, treatment, and infection control of measles within healthcare facilities.

Emergency response and isolation plans

The Ministry of Health has instructed healthcare facilities to develop, review, and update their plans for measles prevention and control. Hospitals must be ready with triage, emergency care, isolation, and treatment procedures, especially in the event of an increase in suspected or confirmed measles cases, including severe or critical cases.

Facilities are required to organize separate examination areas within clinics for patients suspected of having measles and to establish isolated treatment zones within infectious disease departments, pediatric departments, or designated isolation areas within clinical departments.

For severe measles cases requiring intensive care, hospitals must arrange treatment in intensive care units or designate critical care beds within infectious disease departments. Strict isolation and infection control measures are necessary to prevent cross-infection.

Limiting visits to reduce transmission

The Ministry of Health has also mandated limiting the number of visitors to reduce the risk of transmission within medical facilities and the broader community. Hospitals must be prepared with response plans that align with the evolving measles situation, ensuring close coordination between clinical care and preventive measures.

According to the Ministry of Health, from the beginning of the year to March 20, more than 42,400 suspected measles cases have been reported nationwide, with over 4,000 cases confirmed through testing. At least six deaths from measles have been recorded in the past three months.

To address the rise in cases, the Ministry of Health is accelerating vaccination efforts for children aged 6 to under 9 months in 54 provinces and cities, moving up the vaccination timeline from the previous minimum age of 9 months. Localities have been instructed to complete vaccinations by March 31.

Understanding measles and its risks

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection transmitted through respiratory droplets, typically released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. One measles case can infect 12 to 18 people, spreading more rapidly and extensively than influenza and chickenpox.

Common symptoms include fever, sore throat, conjunctivitis, and rash. Severe complications can arise, including laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, encephalitis, meningitis, otitis media, gastrointestinal ulcers, corneal ulcers, and immune suppression, which can lead to death.

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