(KPL) Lao Friends Hospital for Children has confirmed multiple cases of measles and is warning of a potential outbreak in the wider community. The hospital, working closely with Luang Prabang’s public health authorities, is taking urgent steps to prevent the spread of the disease and safeguard the health of patients, staff, and the general public.

"We are taking this situation very seriously," said Dr. Aenkham Thammaseng, Medical Director at Lao Friends Hospital. "Measures have been implemented within the hospital to contain the spread, and we are urging the community to remain vigilant."

Dr. Aenkham explained that measles is a highly contagious viral illness transmitted through the air via coughing and sneezing.

Common symptoms include:

High fever

Cough and runny nose

Red, watery eyes

A rash that begins on the face and spreads across the body

If you or a family member exhibits these symptoms, please call the hospital at 020 9860 6306 before visiting, so staff can safely coordinate triage.

Since April 11, over 60 measles cases have been identified in Luang Prabang. To respond to the growing risk, Lao Friends Hospital has requested over 250 doses of the measles vaccine to immunize doctors, nurses, and staff. Additional vaccine supplies are being requested for the wider population in Luang Prabang.

To combat rising measles cases, the Ministry of Health of Lao PDR with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, and the Australian Government launched a Measles and Rubella Supplementary Immunization Activity (MR SIA) in May 2024.

This campaign targeted 633,849 children across all 148 districts, successfully reaching over 603,000, or 95.2% of the target group.

“Improving measles and rubella vaccination rates in Lao PDR is critical if we are to avoid the deadly outbreaks seen in other countries,” said WHO Lao PDR Representative Dr. Tim Armstrong.

Measles remains one of the most contagious diseases globally, capable of causing severe complications or death, particularly in young children. Despite being preventable through a two-dose MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine, measles cases have surged globally, including in the Western Pacific Region, where cases rose from 1,080 in 2021 to 5,044 in 2023 due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Lao PDR, routine immunization rates declined during the pandemic, with only 82% coverage for the first MMR dose and 61% for the second in 2022—well below the 95% threshold required to prevent outbreaks.

All vaccines used in Lao PDR are approved by WHO and the Ministry of Health and are proven safe and effective in preventing life-threatening diseases.

Protect Yourself and Others:

Ensure children are fully vaccinated with the MMR vaccine.

Limit visits to crowded places if unwell.

Wear a mask if experiencing symptoms.

Stay informed and help protect our community.

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KPL