The country's Health Ministry comes in for criticism for hiding the extent of the outbreak and failing to take appropriate action. Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien dismisses fear-mongers, claims "only" 25 children have died so far. Some 3,430 cases have been confirmed with an additional 5,800 suspected. The World Health Organisation is closely monitoring the situation. Alarmed parents rush their children to hospital.

Hanoi (AsiaNews/Agencies) - A possible measles outbreak has been reported in Vietnam after 123 children were reportedly killed by the disease. This in turn has sparked a wave of popular discontent with the government's response, deemed inadequate by many.

Waves of people have rushed to hospitals in Hanoi (northern Vietnam) and Ho Chi Minh City (southern Vietnam) as well as other places fearful that the disease might be spreading.

Meanwhile, criticism is mounting on the Internet and social media with netizens calling for the resignation of Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien.

What is more, as parents rush to get their children vaccinated against the highly contagious viral disease, Vietnamese authorities have come under fire for allegedly covering up a potential epidemic.

A report by the Health Ministry mentions 3,430 confirmed cases and more than 5,800 suspected ones as of last Sunday, in what doctors have called the country's worst-ever measles outbreak. However, for many people, the report has come too little too late.

"How long do you want to cover this up before you declare an epidemic so that people will be aware of the situation?" one Internet user wrote. Addressing the Health Minister, "If you still have some dignity, please resign," wrote another.

Others believe that the lack of reliable information is linked to the objective, previously set by the authorities to eradicate the disease from the country by 2017.

Last week, Health Minister Tien rejected claims about a cover-up of the death toll. Instead, she told the public that "only" 25 deaths were directly attributable to measles.

By contrast, doctors at hospitals in Hanoi reported scores of young children dying from measles-linked infections. Death in such cases is usually a result of complications from the disease.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has been closely monitoring the situation in Vietnam to prevent any spread.

Vietnam's standards for communicating with the public about a disease outbreak are lower than in other countries and monitoring the cases of the disease in hospitals is lacking. In both cases, shortcomings are due to lack of money and resources.

For WHO, there are good reasons to be worried. Although the decision to declare an outbreak is up to individual countries' considerations, just three deaths would be enough for a declaration, an agency official said.

Measles is a common childhood viral illness that carries symptoms of high fever, a runny nose, white spots in the mouth, and a hallmark rash.

Vietnamese children usually get their first measles vaccination dose at 9 months old and a second after 12 months.

In Vietnam's previous measles flare-up in 2009-2010, three victims were officially reported.

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• measles
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