The directive came after one teacher and nine students of a primary school in District 12 showed signs of contracting measles or rubella. One of the students is confirmed to have measles.

Measles is a virus usually contracted during childhood. Symptoms include rashes and inflammation of the nose, throat, ears, mouth and bronchi, with adults most prone to more serious complications.

Rubella is also a highly contagious viral disease, especially affecting children, that causes swelling of the lymph glands and a reddish pink rash on the skin.

The HCMC health department said Friday that 11 people had come down with measles.

The Ministry of Health has asked the HCMC Pasteur Institute to speed up the supply of measles vaccines for targeted children.

The free measles inoculation must be carried out for all children aged between nine and 11 months as part of the National Extended Vaccination Program, the ministry said.

Reported by Thanh Tung