Over 7,000 children have contracted measles and at least 111 have died of the disease since it recurred in Vietnam late last year, much higher than reported by the Ministry of Health last week, a central hospital director announced Wednesday.
Hanoi accounts for 50 percent of mortality
Yesterday Minister Tien visited the Hanoi-based Central Pediatrics Hospital, where a large number of children with measles are being treated.
Health authorities estimated that the capital has occupied about 30 percent of the number of measles patients and 50 percent of the deaths from measles complications nationwide.
Meanwhile, as many as 100,000 children in the northern hub have yet to be vaccinated against measles, a benign disease which can cause serious complications that may lead to death, said Nguyen Nhat Cam, director of the Hanoi Preventive Health Center.
Asked by reporters if Hanoi is going to declare the measles an epidemic, while the illness may continue to spread there, Minster Tien said this issue depends on local health authorities.
“Director of the Hanoi Health Department Nguyen Khac Hien has said he will consult the city government about whether Hanoi will make such a declaration,” the minister said.
As the measles situation has become more severe, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on Wednesday issued a message, urging all competent agencies and authorities to take measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
He demanded the health ministry improve the efficiency of measles treatment to minimize the mortality.
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