Ho Chi Minh City could soon declare end of measles outbreak after year-long battle

Of the city’s all 273 wards, communes, and towns, 228 have already received official declarations, with the remaining 45 completing final procedures.

As of epidemiological week 24 from June 9-15, the city had recorded a total of 9,599 measles cases since the outbreak began in August 2024.

Of these, 5,503 were hospitalized and 4,096 treated as outpatients.

However, in recent months, case numbers have steadily declined.

Just 33 new cases were recorded last week, marking a 53.8-percent drop from the four-week average.

The decline indicates the city’s strong outbreak control.

The turnaround is largely credited to a mass vaccination campaign targeting children aged 1-10.

By the end of March this year, over 280,000 doses had been administered, with 100 percent coverage in the 1-5 age group and 99.5 percent in the 6-10 group.

This helped restore herd immunity and prevent further transmission to unvaccinated individuals.

Hospitals were also instructed to establish isolation wards and prepare necessary equipment and personnel for patient intake and treatment.

The Ministry of Health dispatched inspection teams to support local hospitals, which it praised for their effective response.

Despite the outbreak being under control, the Department of Health warns that the risk of resurgence remains.

Even a single new case or a small outbreak could escalate if not promptly contained, especially in areas with high population mobility or low vaccination coverage.

To prevent future outbreaks, the city will continue active surveillance in communities, schools, and health facilities, maintain routine and catch-up vaccination programs, and encourage older children and adults without immunity to get vaccinated.

Parents are urged to ensure their children receive all recommended immunizations on schedule and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms like fever, rash, cough, or runny nose appear.

The municipal administration declared a citywide measles outbreak in August 2024 after a spike in infections, including three child fatalities.

The outbreak was classified as a Group B infectious disease, posing serious health risks to unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals.