At the Tropical Diseases Department of the Điện Biên provincial General Hospital, many children are currently being monitored and treated for measles, presenting symptoms such as high fever, rashes, and exhaustion. Medical staff are conducting continuous examinations to track disease progression and guiding families on proper care to minimize potential complications.

Holding her child, Giàng Thị Gống from Na Sang shared that her six-month-old infant recently suffered from a high fever and red blisters. Upon examination, doctors diagnosed the child with measles. Fortunately, due to timely hospitalization and a week of dedicated treatment, the child’s condition has improved significantly and no longer requires mechanical ventilation.

According to statistics from the Provincial General Hospital, the number of infectious disease cases, particularly measles, has shown signs of increasing since the start of the year. In the first three months of 2026 alone, the hospital admitted 32 measles cases, an increase of 10 cases compared to the same period in 2025. During peak periods, the facility sees seven to eight cases per week, and in April, as many as five admissions were recorded in a single day.

Bác sĩ Đỗ Tiến Lập, Head of the Tropical Diseases Department, explained that measles is highly contagious, especially in hot weather and crowded environments where children’s resistance is often weakened. Since there is currently no specific treatment, full vaccination remains the most effective preventive measure. Following new recommendations from the Ministry of Health, children can now be vaccinated starting from six months of age. Additionally, it is crucial to maintain personal hygiene, wear masks when in contact with potential sources of infection, and provide young children with proper nutrition and Vitamin A supplements.

Beyond measles, several other infectious diseases are also trending upward this summer. Statistics show that the province recorded 3,009 infectious disease cases in the first quarter. Diarrhea accounted for the highest proportion with 1,665 cases, followed by the flu with 1,096 cases, measles with 166 cases, bacillary dysentery with 70 cases, and hand-foot-and-mouth disease with 7 cases. Compared to the previous year, certain diseases have seen a decline, such as measles decreasing by 569 cases, diarrhea by 440 cases, and the flu by 72 cases.

However, the progression of these diseases remains complex. Since the beginning of the year, the province has identified six outbreaks. These include four measles outbreaks in Chiềng Sinh, Pu Nhi, Mường Luân, and Xa Dung with 74 cases; one mumps outbreak in Mường Luân with 29 cases; and one chickenpox outbreak in Pu Nhi with 28 cases. All outbreaks were promptly detected, localized, and handled to prevent further spread.

In reality, disease prevention at the grassroots level faces numerous challenges. As a mountainous province with a vast and divided terrain, many villages are located far from central hubs, making travel difficult, especially during the rainy season. This directly hinders early disease detection and monitoring. There are many instances where residents do not reach medical facilities in time, increasing the risk of community transmission. Furthermore, many communal health stations are understaffed, requiring personnel to handle multiple programs simultaneously. Professional capacity in epidemiology remains inconsistent, and funding for prevention work is limited. Additionally, both formal and informal cross-border movements increase the risk of external disease infiltration.

In response to these realities, the provincial health sector has deployed several synchronized solutions. Doctor Từ Bá Hải, Deputy Director of the provincial Center for Disease Control (CDC), stated that the unit will continue to closely monitor disease developments both within and outside the province to build proactive response plans. There will be an increased focus on training to improve the monitoring, detection, and handling capabilities of health workers at all levels, particularly at the commune level. The health sector has also proactively budgeted for sufficient chemicals, supplies, and equipment for disease control, while communication efforts have been ramped up to help residents recognize early signs of illness and seek medical help when necessary.

Health officials recommend that during the hot season, people must strictly adhere to preventive measures. For mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis, it is vital to eliminate mosquitoes and larvae, cover water containers, and sleep under nets even during the day. Children must be fully vaccinated. For digestive illnesses, it is essential to eat cooked food, drink boiled water, use safe food sources, and wash hands with soap before eating and after using the restroom. For respiratory illnesses like the flu or COVID-19, masks should be worn in crowded places, and living environments should be kept well-ventilated. Finally, for hand-foot-and-mouth and other contact-spread diseases, personal hygiene and the regular disinfection of children’s toys and belongings are critical. As summer enters its peak, the risk of outbreaks is ever-present, making public awareness and health sector proactivity the deciding factors in protecting community health.