Outbreaks of measles have so far occurred in 61 of the 63 localities nationwide.  Da Nang’s authorities have recently directed the municipal Department of Health and relevant agencies to take urgent measures to control and prevent this infectious disease.

Since the start of this year, a total of 104 patients suspected of contracting measles have been reported in the city, 81 of whom are local residents with the remainder from neighbouring localities.  No fatalities have been reported in the city, although there are currently 10 patients in a serious condition.  Thanh Khe District has recorded the highest number of measles-infected children in the city with 18 cases, followed by Lien Chieu District with 16.

Treating a measles-infected child at the Da Nang Maternity and Paediatrics Hospital

By 18 April, 44 measles-infected people had been admitted to the Da Nang Maternity and Paediatrics Hospital for treatment, 7 of whom were in critical condition with severe complications including pneumonia and respiratory distress at the first and second levels.  An average of 7 local children, mainly aged under 5, are taken to the hospital for detection of measles per day, but this figure has increased to 14 per day at peak times.

In an effort to control and prevent measles, many local healthcare establishments are taking strong measures to cope with human-to-human transmission of this contagious disease.  The Tropical Medicine Department of the Maternity and Paediatrics Hospital has a special area with 100 beds for measles patients to keep them totally isolated from others.

The Deputy Dean of the hospital’s Department of Paediatrics, Dr Le Van Doan, said that measles is transmitted primarily from person to person by large respiratory droplets that spray into the air.  As a result, those who go to the hospital for medical examinations might contract the disease from infected patients who are receiving treatment here.  He added that about 90% of the children might have caught their measles via direct contact with infected children.  Premature infants, and those who are physically weak or have not been vaccinated against measles, are most at risk of infection.  If children less than 2 years old receive 2 measles shots as required, they should be immune to the disease for their whole lives.  Of the 34 suspected children who have tested positive for measles virus so far this year, 6 had received the first shot and 2 had been given the second shot, but the remainder had not been vaccinated.

The Director of the municipal Department of Health, Mr Pham Hung Chien, said that the city is expected to see a slight increase year-on-year in the number of measles patients this year.  Under the nation’s expanded immunisation programme, over 95 % of the city’s children are vaccinated against measles per year.  Thanks to this, the city has seen very few cases of measles in recent years.  However, the cycle of measles outbreaks is every 3 or 5 years, and it is being repeated in the 2013 - 2014 period.  As a result, this year measles is spreading at a rapid rate.