The Ministry of Health has issued an urgent directive for stricter measles control, as cases continue to rise nationwide, surpassing 2024 figures in the first quarter of 2025.

Vietnam has recorded nearly 40,000 suspected measles cases and five measles-related deaths since the beginning of this year. The southern region reported the highest number of cases (57%), the central region accounted for 19.2%, the north 15.1%, and the Central Highlands 8.7%.

Vietnam has recorded just 912 flu cases nationwide so far this year, a staggering 97% drop compared to the same period last year, which saw 34,442 cases.

In 2024, Vietnam reported more than 45,550 suspected measles cases, including 7,583 confirmed infections and 16 deaths linked to the disease.

Given the highly contagious nature of measles and its dependency on vaccination coverage, timely immunisation efforts are essential.

Vietnam has recorded 6,725 cases of measles since the beginning of 2024, a 130-fold increase over 2023, according to the Ministry of Health.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on November 14 urged ministries, agencies and localities to strengthen measles prevention and control measures, given an uptrend recorded in several localities.

Cambodia launched a measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign nationwide on October 31 to protect over 1.5 million children under five years old.

Ho Chi Minh City will kick off a measles vaccination campaign at all medical stations in the 22 districts, and Thu Duc city from August 31 .

Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee on August 27 declared a measles outbreak across the city due to a rapid increase in cases.

The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF, on August 22 launched a campaign to provide 1,134,200 doses of vaccine against measles, funded by the Australian Government, for Vietnamese children in 2024, given the risk of a measles outbreak in the world, including Vietnam.

There are increasing concerns the prolonged vaccine shortage may soon lead to the resurgence of infectious diseases in Vietnam.

Vaccinations must take place safely and effectively, particularly in remote disadvantaged areas where vaccination coverage remained modest, Deputy Health Minister Do Xuan Tuyen said on September 21.

Hanoi recorded 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 health authorities.

As many as 2,000 cases of measles, including two deaths, have been recorded nationwide so far this year, according to the Preventive Medicine Department under the Ministry of Health.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam urged medical facilities nationwide to step up preventive health care services and ensure adequate vaccines to prevent the spread of epidemics such as measles and dengue fever.

According to the cycle of measles outbreaks, after 4-5 years, measles will recur on a large scale. Especially, in 2018, the number of measles cases has increased more than in 2017.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien on March 9 inspected the prevention of measles in Ho Chi Minh City as there has been an unusually high number of cases recorded in the southern city since the end of 2018.

New cases of communicable diseases in Ho Chi Minh City have gradually declined, but the figure stayed at a high level, said the municipal Preventive Medicine Centre.

More Philippine children are contracting measles, while the disease has yet to be put under control, according to the country’s Department of Health (DOH).