Nearly 80% more cases of measles in the world at the start of the year: millions of children could be affected in 2022, warn the World Health Organization (WHO) and Unicef in a press release
- Measles cases soared nearly 80% worldwide earlier this year
- This increase could lead to major epidemic outbreaks, according to UNICEF and WHO
Are serious measles epidemics to be feared? This is what emerges from communicated on the explosion in the number of measles cases recorded worldwide published yesterday by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Unicef. This figure increased by 79% in the first two months of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, from 17,338 measles cases reported worldwide in January and February 2022, compared to 9,665 during the first two months of 2021.
small red spots
Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that is transmitted through the air, it is recognized by small red spots that first appear behind the ears and on the forehead.
Measles is first manifested by a runny nose, conjunctivitis with tearing, swelling of the eyelids, redness of the eyes and discomfort at the sight of light, cough, great fatigue, high fever (until at 39-40°C).
These symptoms last about three to four days. Then the measles rash occurs. Complications of measles can be serious: lung infection and neurological complications. The best way to protect yourself is to get vaccinated, according to health authorities.
Decline in vaccination
The two UN agencies are concerned that the disruptions linked to the Coronavirus pandemic are particularly favorable to an epidemic outbreak of this disease, a situation that endangers children.
Indeed, worsening inequalities in access to vaccines and the reallocation of resources intended for routine immunization prevent too many children from receiving protection against measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
In 2020, 23 million children (3.7 million more than in 2019) did not receive basic childhood vaccines as part of routine health services, the highest figure since 2009.
However, this highly contagious disease tends to resurface very quickly when vaccination rates decline.
Moreover, the already dizzying figures are probably higher because the pandemic has disrupted surveillance systems.
There have been 21 significant measles outbreaks in the last twelve months (to April), most of them in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean region. The countries that have seen the biggest measles outbreaks since last year are Somalia, Yemen, Nigeria, Afghanistan and Ethiopia.
More vulnerable
Organizations are also concerned that outbreaks of measles may also portend other outbreaks of slower-spreading diseases.
In addition to its direct effects on the body, which can be life-threatening, the measles virus weakens the immune system and makes the child more vulnerable for several months to other infectious diseases such as pneumonia and diarrhea. .
The WHO has not ceased in recent months to sound the alarm on the risk of “absolute disaster” if the dangerous delay in the vaccination of children due to the Covid-19 pandemic is not caught up and if health restrictions are lifted too quickly.
