Another measles death confirmed in Hanoi

Hanoi, April 29 (VNA) – Hanoi recorded another measles-linked death at the National Hospital of Paediatrics on April 28, pushing the fatalities from measles and its complications to 128 so far this year. According to the Health Ministry’s Preventive Medicine Department, the nation recorded another 35 cases of measles on the day, raising the total number to 3,751 across 61 out of 63 cities and provinces nationwide. As of the day, 79.4 percent of children throughout the country were vaccinated, up 1.1 percent from a day earlier. Forty-nine provinces have recorded over 70 percent of immunisation while the southern province of Bac Lieu posted the lowest rate, below 50 percent. Also on April 28, ministry officials inspected the outbreak control at Children Hospitals 1, 2 in Hanoi and the northern province of Bac Ninh. The ministry and 11 measles-prone cities and provinces are coming up with a detailed plan to offer free vaccines to children aged 2-10. Vietnam expects to eliminate the disease by 2017.-VNA