Anti-measles inspection intensified
The Health Ministry said on April 18 that it has set up five inspection teams to scrutinise measles treatment and prevention in the country’s two major cities of Hanoi and HCM City, with the aim to reduce fatalities.
Inspectors are tasked to review the number of measles patients and fatalities as well as vaccination plans and communication campaigns to raise the public awareness of the issue.
Vietnam has to date recorded over 7,000 cases of measles, with one third in the capital. The disease has claimed 25 lives so far, mostly children aged below 10 years.
The epidemic erupted in 61 out of 63 cities and provinces in the first quarter of this year. The number of fatalities from measles complications has amounted to 108.
Vietnam is in the stage of curbing measles and expects to eliminate the disease by 2017.