Fears of deadly outbreak spur doctors to keep lid on measles

15:07' 27/02/2009 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge – The potential deadly side-effects of measles - meningitis - and birth defects from rubella are underpinning prevention efforts in HCM City where 12 more cases struck on Wednesday. Currently, 16 of the 24 districts in the city have reported measles patients. The municipal health department was working with local authorities to sanitise and sterilise affected areas and vacinate those who were in direct contact with measles cases, said city health department deputy director Le Truong Giang. "All primary students in the city are being vaccinated against the disease," Dr Giang said. Ten children and two adults were reported with measles on Wednesday, bringing the number of the cases in the city to 40 over the past two weeks, but Giang said the 13 hot spots of the disease were under control. "However, there are still cases of measles and rubella (German measles) occuring. Measles and rubella had similar symptoms. The two diseases can only be differentiated through tests." The department was taking samples from suspected patients for further testing to help with prevention measures, Giang said. Doctor Kieu Quoc Khanh said measles could cause blindness or meningitis while rubella had ability to harm unborn babies. "It is serious as infection of pregnant woman can produce miscarriage, stillbirth or serious birth defects," he said. Also, the disease could occur all year round so preventive measures were necessary, particularly for children, he said. Currently, 16 of the 24 districts in the city have reported measles patients. The disease is hitting many localities in the north and south, including Ha Noi, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Nam Dinh and Thai Binh.