One death related to measles was reported on May 3, bringing the total fatalities caused either directly or indirectly by the disease to 133, the Health Ministry reported on the same day.

An additional 52 measles cases were reported nationwide during the course of the day, raising the total measles patients this year to 3,982.

Most of the patients are being treated at the Bach Mai Hospital, the National Hospital of Paediatrics and the Central Tropical Hospital in the north.

The Ministry’s Preventive Medicine Department said the vaccination campaign nationwide has helped increased the vaccinated rate to 85.2 percent, with 18 cities and provinces achieving rates of more than 95 percent.

Forty other localities have brought the rate of vaccinated children to between 75-90 percent, while the remaining five reported rates ranging from 60-70 percent.

The health sector is continuing to administer measles vaccinations in all provinces and cities across the country, especially those that have not reached the set target.

Earlier on May 3, Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Viet Tien led a delegation to the northern port city of Hai Phong to inspect the locality’s efforts in fighting against measles.

The municipal Health Department’s report showed that as of May 2, there had been a total of 366 measles cases throughout the city.

According to the municipal Health Department Director Phan Trong Khanh, the local authorities are mustering all resources to contain the spread of the disease.

The Health Ministry is organising more campaigns across the country to raise public awareness of the disease. It has also started a plan on giving free measles vaccinations to children from 2 to 10 years old in localities with high risk of the disease.

The vaccination campaign will be conducted from May to July.-VNA