Vietnam Warns Possible Measles Outbreak in Areas Bordering Laos, China

The Ministry of Health has issued a warning of the reoccurrence of measles in Vietnam, especially in the winter, as the disease is plaguing in some districts bordering with Laos and China. The warning was made though around 15 million children at the ages of 1-14 have so far received free immunizations against measles and rubella across the country. In order to prevent an outbreak of measles in the bordering districts, the ministry decided to immediately implement immunization against measles and rubella in the mountainous provinces bordering with China and Laos. The free vaccination campaign will be conducted for all children from 1 to 14 years old to curb transmission into the country. Measles remains a threat in Vietnam, with thousands of children in 61 out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide infected and more than one hundred of them died in the first months of 2014. By the end of May 2014, the measles vaccination ratio in Vietnam was 96.1% on average. (Sai Gon Giai Phong – Saigon Liberation Jan 17)a