Since the beginning of the year, 16 confirmed measles cases have been reported in Khanh Hoa Province so far...
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Estimated 100 million in the world are infected with measles resulting in 6 million deaths a year.
Dr. Phan The Long, Department of Infectious Diseases, Khanh Hoa General Hospital, says measles outbreak often occurs in a hot and dry weather. Epidemic cycles happen every 2 to 3 years.
Thanks to immunization programs against measles, the infection rate has dropped by 99% in many developed countries. Before the initiative, like in many other countries, Vietnam used to see a high number of measles patients, especially among children under 5 years of age.
Measles symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash. The incubation period usually lasts for 12–14 days or even 21 days in some cases. Measles is spread through respiration and is highly contagious.
Dr. Phan The Long says to prevent measles, it is advisable to raise public awareness of measles so that parents are more active in protecting their children from measles by vaccination. Precaution against measles should be taken to prevent outbreak in the community.
It is highly recommended that two doses of vaccine should be given on schedule, at six months and 6 years of age. There is no specific treatment for measles.
Medical advice is important. Supportive treatment should include vitamin A supplementation and medications to control fever or pain to decrease the risk of blindness and death.
N.T
