International SOS sent a medical update concerning a measles outbreak in Vietnam infecting at least 340 children and adults since mid-January. Continue reading and find out how you can support MEDRIX in reducing the occurrence and severity of infections in Vietnam.
Since mid-January, at least 340 people have been infected. Most cases have occurred in Hanoi. At least seven people's infections have involved serious complications requiring hospitalization. Children and adults have been affected. Many of them have not been vaccinated or may only have received one dose of vaccine against measles.
The Disease
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can have serious complications. It is spread by droplets coughed into the air as well as direct contact with the nasal and throat secretions of an infected person. The disease can have a high mortality rate among poor and malnourished children.
The Symptoms
Symptoms include fever, cough, conjunctivitis, rash and spots in the mouth (Koplik spots). Severe complications include pneumonia, and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
Prevention
Measles can be prevented with a vaccination, which is routine for children in many countries. Often the first dose is given between 12-15 months of age, and the second at age 4-6 years of age.
Childhood Immunization Education
MEDRIX works in hospitals and health clinics in central Vietnam educating healthcare workers on the importance of childhood immunizations to prevent diseases such as measles. With the help of Seattle Pacific University nursing students, MEDRIX has created a flip book titled, "Preventing Illnesses by Getting Immunized". Healthcare workers have access to the Vietnamese translated version of this flip book to educate their staff and their patients on the dosage needed and the age at which the child should be immunized to prevent infection.
Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI)
MEDRIX works at Hue Central Pediatric Hospital in Vietnam educating doctors, nurses, and midwives from the surrounding areas on the importance of early detection of childhood illnesses while also training them on how to properly diagnose and treat these illnesses. This intense training provides healthcare workers with the tools and resources needed to diagnose an illness at the beginning stages and reduce the severity of the illness' outcome.
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