Measles cases increased more than 8 times, whooping cough cases increased more than 25 times

The Ministry of Health has just sent an official dispatch to the People's Committees of provinces and cities on proactively implementing epidemic prevention and control during the back-to-school season.

According to information from the infectious disease surveillance system, up to now, in 2024, many localities have recorded an increase in cases of measles, whooping cough and some other infectious diseases. Compared to the same period in 2023, the number of measles cases increased more than 8 times, the number of whooping cough cases increased more than 25 times.

The whole country is entering a new school year, students of all levels are returning to school; the risk of contracting infectious diseases is increasing, especially with some infectious diseases such as measles, whooping cough, hand, foot and mouth disease and some diseases transmitted through the respiratory tract.

To proactively implement disease prevention and control work during the school year, the Ministry of Health requests the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities to continue to pay attention, direct authorities at all levels and mobilize departments, branches, and socio-political organizations to closely coordinate with the health sector, proactively deploy solutions to prevent and control diseases in the area, especially infectious diseases that often occur during the school year; direct the organization of inspection and supervision teams, and urge and direct localities and units on disease prevention and control work in the area.

The Ministry of Health requests the Department of Health of provinces and cities to closely monitor the development of the epidemic situation in the area; strengthen supervision, early detection of cases, outbreaks in the community and medical facilities; implement isolation, promptly and thoroughly handle outbreaks to prevent outbreaks in the community; increase sampling and testing to identify pathogens. Closely coordinate with the Institutes of Hygiene and Epidemiology/Pasteur to proactively assess risks, analyze the situation to promptly deploy measures to handle outbreaks and organize vaccination campaigns.

Promote regular vaccination for subjects under the expanded immunization program to ensure safety and effectiveness; review and organize catch-up vaccinations for subjects who have not been vaccinated or have not received enough doses; mobilize families to take their children for full and timely vaccinations.

Perform well the work of patient admission, treatment, infection control and cross-infection prevention in medical examination and treatment facilities; review and ensure logistics, funding, drugs, vaccines, biological products, supplies, chemicals, equipment, human resources... to meet the requirements of epidemic prevention and control according to the 4 on-site motto.

Proactively and coordinately provide and update information on the epidemic situation and disease prevention recommendations for people; strengthen communication to encourage and mobilize families and parents to fully vaccinate their children on schedule and provide guidance on health monitoring to enhance and protect the health of children and students before returning to school. Closely coordinate with media agencies, newspapers and grassroots communication systems to recommend and guide people to implement disease prevention measures for individuals and families and raise awareness and change behavior to protect health.

Organize inspection and supervision of the implementation of epidemic prevention work, especially in areas with recorded cases of disease, at risk of outbreaks, and areas with poor management of vaccination subjects and low vaccination rates.

The Ministry of Health directs the Department of Education and Training and educational institutions nationwide to prepare the best conditions to ensure the health of children, pupils and students when entering the new school year; ensure clean, airy classrooms and adequate lighting in educational institutions, schools, nurseries and kindergartens. Closely coordinate with the health sector to guide educational institutions, especially kindergartens and nurseries to implement epidemic prevention and control measures such as closely monitoring the health of children and pupils, promptly detecting cases with signs of suspected illness to notify health facilities for coordination in handling; instructing on good personal hygiene, regularly washing hands with soap and clean water and coordinating communication, propaganda and mobilizing families and parents to take their children for full vaccination on schedule according to the instructions of the health sector.

Direct the Department of Information and Communications, media agencies, press and grassroots media systems to strengthen communication on disease prevention and control; coordinate in providing recommendations and instructions for people to implement personal disease prevention measures, get vaccinated and change behavior, and improve health.

The Ministry of Health directs the Department of Finance to allocate sufficient funding for epidemic prevention and control activities and expanded vaccination from local budget sources and prepare reserve funding sources in case of necessity according to regulations.