A child patient

Clinical examinations show about 28% of the fatalities were babies of less than 9 months old who are not subject to measles vaccination shots under the MoH guidelines.

Another 68.3% of the reported incidences involved children under the age of ten, most of whom had not received an inoculation against measles.

Health officials said the seasonal change from winter to spring accompanied by prolonged cold spells and high humidity is the main cause of respiratory diseases that triggers the measles virus to emerge and spread quickly within community.

The disease was also reported in Hanoi and HCM City – the two biggest cities in Vietnam, however, it developed on a small scale and is showing signs of waning.

The Health Ministry has provided roughly 1.2 million doses of measles vaccine and medical equipment to help the Central Pediatrics Hospital reduce the severity of pain and suffering caused by the disease.