Measles making a comeback
A worrying surge in new cases of measels in US and SA emphasises the importance of vaccinations.
In 2014 and the first month of 2015, 66 cases of measles were reported in South Africa.
According to Netcare Travel Clinic, this may not seem too alarming, but compared to the mere six cases reported in 2013, it is a worrying trend.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases consequently issued an alert in mid-December last year, which warned clinicians to be on the lookout for measles.
South Africa’s last measles outbreak occurred from 2009-2011, where 18,000 cases were reported in the three-year period.
Dr Pete Vincent of Netcare Travel Clinics and Medicross Family Medical and Dental Centre, points out that measles starts with a fever, a runny nose, a cough, red eyes, and a sore throat, followed by a rash that spreads over the body.
“The measles virus is highly contagious and can remain alive outside of the human body for a few hours. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus is so contagious that if one person has it, 90% of the people around him or her will also become infected if they have not been protected by vaccination.”
“Measles is one of the most dangerous of all childhood diseases, as it can lead to encephalitis, pneumonia, croup, lifelong brain damage, deafness and death,” says Dr Vincent.
“Babies younger than one year of age, malnourished individuals or people whose immune systems are compromised, are particularly at risk of developing severe complications.”
The only protection against the disease, aside from natural immunity, is the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine, which is almost 100% effective in preventing measles.
Dr Vincent notes, “Any traveller or individual who wants to protect themselves or their children should have the vaccine administered. Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of getting infected when they travel internationally.”
It is especially important that infants who are six months of age and older and will be travelling internationally should be protected against measles by receiving one dose of the MMR vaccine.
Infants who get one dose of the MMR vaccine before their first birthday should get two more doses – one dose between 12-15 months of age and another dose at least 28 days later.
Children 12 months of age and older should receive two doses of MMR vaccine, separated by at least 28 days. Teenagers and adults who have not yet had measles should get two doses of the MMR vaccine, separated by at least 28 days.
“Vaccines are one of the biggest public health success stories. Because South African immunisation rates are high, many vaccine-preventable diseases don’t have the visibility they once had and most parents aren’t aware of just how dangerous these diseases can be. They also have access to conflicting and often inaccurate information about vaccines, and as a result do not take their children for vaccination shots. The reason for the outbreak spreading so quickly in the US has been largely attributed to a suspicion of vaccinations,” explains Dr Vincent.
“Vaccines cause the occasional mild adverse reaction in some individuals, but they are safe. They also provide protection against some very dangerous diseases – measles being only one. It is vital that children and travellers get vaccinated so they can be protected against this potentially fatal disease,” concludes Dr Vincent.
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