An adult dies of measles in southern Vietnam

The patient, residing in Phu Cuong commune, began showing symptoms of fever and cough on December 1, and his family self-medicated him at home. Two days later, he developed a full-body rash and difficulty breathing, and was admitted to the hospital for emergency care.

However, due to the severity of his condition, he passed away on December 5 after returning home from hospital on family request.

He was diagnosed with acute respiratory failure, septic shock from the lungs, suspected measles-related secondary infection, psoriasis, and Down syndrome.

On December 23, the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City reported that the male patient had tested positive for the measles virus.

This is the third measures related fatalities in Dong Nai this year. Local authorities have urged the public to practice good hygiene, wash hands regularly with soap, and especially to vaccinate children aged 1 to 10 who have not received both doses of the measles vaccine.

So far this year, Vietnam has reported more than 20,000 suspected cases of measles, including nearly 5,000 confirmed cases and seven deaths. Most of the infections were recorded in southern localities, including Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces.

Measles is an acute infectious disease transmitted through the respiratory tract. A person infected with measles can spread the virus to 16-18 others, making it one of the most contagious infectious diseases. Both children and adults who have not been immunized against measles are susceptible to the disease.

Measles can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, conjunctivitis and corneal ulcers, resulting in blindness, and encephalitis. Pregnant women who contract measles face an increased risk of premature birth, miscarriage, stillbirth, and low birth weight infants.

To prevent the disease, leading infectious disease experts emphasize the importance of the measles vaccine.