Hanoi (VNA) - Hanoirecorded 1,193 cases of measles since the beginning of this year, however,there has been no death from this disease, according to the city's healthauthorities.

Last week, the capital cityrecorded 88 cases of the disease, a decrease of one case compared tothe week from April 29 to May 5, health officials reported at a meeting on May 14.

The number of measles cases overthe past week has decreased slightly in comparison with previousweeks; however, the epidemic will likely continue to increase with about70-80 cases per week, in line with the upward trend of measles cases across thecountry, according to the Hanoi Centre for Disease Control.

Nguyen Nhat Cam, director of thecentre, said that authorities had been warning of a potential measles outbreakin the city since last year.

In 2014, a measles epidemic brokeout in Hanoi leading to a record 1,700 cases that claimed the lives of 14people.

“Measles is highly contagious,and could infect 100 percent of unvaccinated people who are exposed to acarrier of the disease,” Cam said.

The issue is not only affectingthe capital. In February this year, it was reported that measles had hit43 provinces across the country.

By the end of 2018 and in early2019, the city has vaccinated more than half a million children aged 1-5. Therate of vaccinated children suffering from the disease is very lowcompared to other groups, showing the effectiveness of the vaccine,according to Cam.

According to the lateststatistics from the Hanoi Centre for Disease Control, the city has not recordedany large, concentrated outbreaks but rather small, scattered occurrencesthroughout all urban and rural districts of Hanoi.

In order to prevent the epidemicfrom spreading, the health department said people should be more active ingetting vaccinations.

Every year, there arestill 5,000-8,000 children, equivalent to 3-5 percent, who are notvaccinated against measles.

Measles is not the only disease forcity residents to be worries about during summertime, as ten cases of denguefever were recorded in the capital city last week. 

Early implementation of measuresto prevent dengue fever has reduced the number cases in Hanoi, accordingto Hoang Duc Hanh, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Health Department.

Since the beginning of 2019, thecity has recorded 224 dengue fever cases. No deaths have been recorded.

The districts with a high numberof cases include Cau Giay, Ha Dong, Dong Da, Hoang Mai, Hai Ba Trung and Nam TuLiem.

Hanoi also recorded nine cases ofhand-foot-and-mouth disease.

The Health Department wouldcontinue to direct units to strengthen the prevention of infectiousdiseases, especially measles and dengue fever, as summerarrives, Hanh said.-VNA