While nearly 200 cases of measles have been declared since the start of the year in France, the National Institute for Public Health Surveillance (InVS) reiterated the importance of vaccination. In Alsace alone, where an epidemic has been occurring since mid-April, more than 150 cases have been identified. Since January 1, 9 measles case resulted in hospitalizations.
For the InVS, this situation clearly shows “that the circulation of the virus is still active. “In a statement, the Institute adds that” Despite the joint actions of health authorities and health professionals to raise awareness of the risk of resurgence of measles, the virus continues to spread gradually in the general population. “
If measles is generally benign in Western countries, it remains particularly contagious and one of the major causes of infant mortality in the world. Linked to a virus, it is transmitted by air and without contact and can, in some cases, cause serious respiratory or neurological problems.
According to InVS, since 2008 France has experienced an epidemic outbreak with more than 23,500 cases leading to 1,500 cases of severe pneumonia and 34 neurological forms with serious sequelae. 10 people had even succumbed to the disease. Among them, seven people were between 10 and 30 years old and could probably have been saved if they “had been protected from the disease by an immune entourage”, underlines the InVS.
To prevent transmission of the virus, a minimum infant immunization coverage rate of 95% would be necessary, according to health authorities. the measles vaccine is included in a trivalent vaccine comprising doses against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), with a first dose from 12 months and a second between 16 and 18 months.
However, the InVS considers it “essential” that older children and young adults receive two doses of the vaccine “as needed by catch-up” insofar as “nearly 10% of the population of unvaccinated young adults are receptive to measles. “
Of the 146 Alsatians affected and whose vaccination status was known, 136 were not vaccinated and 9 had only received a single dose of the MMR vaccine.
In the event of exposure to the disease by those around them, unvaccinated people who have never been exposed to measles can receive the vaccine within 72 hours of contact with the virus.
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