Rise in number of kids suspected of having measles

HÀ NỘI – Doctors in Hà Nội has raised concerns about the high number of children hospitalised with high fevers and rashes, suspecting that measles is to blame because many kids have not been vaccinated.

Trương Văn Quý, head of the Pediatric Department at Hà Nội–based E Hospital, told vietnamplus.vn online newspaper on Monday morning that the number of children recently admitted to the department suffering from high fevers and rashes was increasing.

Among those hospitalised, two cases were diagnosed as having the measles virus.

The cases were mainly concentrated in districts of Đống Đa, Hà Đông, Hoàng Mai and Bắc Từ Liêm. The majority of children suspected of having measles were under 5 years old.

However, until now, there have been no severe complications, according to the hospital.

Quý warned that most cases of measles were due to children not being vaccinated or not being vaccinated.

Children who weren’t vaccinated or fully vaccinated were likely to get the disease when exposed to the source of infection, according to the doctor.

“Therefore, the best preventive measure is vaccinations for children following the expanded immunisation programme,” he said

The current supply of vaccines was abundant, Quý confirmed. Hospital E was organising counselling and vaccinations for children as part of the expanded vaccination programme, ensuring children were fully vaccinated in accordance with State regulations. — VNS