Many adults have measles complications of encephalitis

In more than 300 measles cases being treated at the Central Hospital of Tropical Diseases, 90% of patients are adults. Many people suffer from mechanical ventilation and encephalitis complications.

Dr. Nguyen Van Kinh, Director of Central Hospital of Tropical Diseases (Hanoi) said that most of measles patients among 313 cases are adults."There are many severe cases, but no death has been reported yet. That's what we feel secure in the current context," Dr. Kinh said.

According to Mr. Kinh, anyone who is not immune (has not been vaccinated, has not been infected) is at risk of measles, adults are not an exception. However, if the child is often a major complication of respiratory infections leading to severe respiratory failure, in adults is encephalitis complications.

When visiting, caring for children with measles many adults can be infected or carry the virus that spreads out of the community.(Photo: N.Phuong)

Before the complicated development of the epidemic, on the afternoon of April 16, Hanoi leaders worked with the Department of Health on disease prevention. In recent weeks, the number of new cases slowed down but remained high, of which 89% were not vaccinated or incomplete, 24% were children under 9 months old. The number of cases of rash in suspected measles was over 1,000, an increase of 150% over the same period.

Hanoi Vice President Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc asked the medical sector to have a movement in direction, in addition to the old solution to strengthen new measures. Currently, the vaccination work of Hanoi only reaches 75%, still nearly 2,000 children have to be vaccinated. Hanoi medical sector is also required to fight 24 / 24h. DOET needs to disseminate information to each school, each teacher. Street groups need to work down, encourage families who have not taken their children to get vaccinated.

'It doesn't matter whether or not to publish the epidemic, the most important thing is to have a drastic and effective implementation of epidemic prevention and control , ' she said.

Dr. glasses warn, according to the tradition of Vietnamese when a sick child is 3-4. Some people are immune but carry the virus in the respiratory tract, returning to the family to spread the virus. Therefore, each individual should also apply common preventive measures such as wearing a medical mask in crowded places, hospitals; wash your hands with liquid .

After three years, no measles outbreak occurred again in December 2013, coinciding with the 3-5-year cycle that the health sector noted. The epidemic quickly spread to 61/63 provinces and cities with more than 7,000 people. The cause of measles recurrence is the inadequate vaccination. The high number of deaths is thought to be caused by the slow growth of the health sector in implementing emergency measures to prevent and combat epidemics. On forums, social networks, many parents are worried about the consequences of measles and expressed their desire for authorities to take more aggressive action.

In 2009-2010, measles outbreaks also occurred in Vietnam. For nearly 2 months, the Central Hospital of Tropical Diseases received 340 measles cases of adults hospitalized, Children Hospital of Trung also recorded 100 cases of measles in children.