Ministry of Health warns about chickenpox outbreak in Hanoi

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According to the General Department of Preventive Medicine, pregnant women are at risk of complication such as pneumonia, miscarriage and birth defects if they contract the relatively harmless chickenpox.

The department advises to maintain personal hygiene and avoid direct contact with infected people.

A 30-year-old patient was infected by her two-year-old child who is infected by classmates at nursery school. Her child has recovered but the woman still has a high fever and rash. Another 23-year-old patient was also admitted to hospital after having contact with an ill child who was recovering. Both of the adult patients haven't been vaccinated.

Dr Vu Manh Cuong from E Hospital said they had received over 20 cases in the past month, some of them had serious complications. Chickenpox often breaks out from the winter to spring and this is the prime time.

He went on to say that people who have contact with ill patients can still be vaccinated within the first three days to prevent the infection. Some people are still infected even after vaccination but their cases are mild.

The WHO advises two doses of chickenpox vaccine.