Measles is officially back on French territory. In a report published on Wednesday, September 27, 2017, Santé Publique France revealed that between January 2017 and July 2017, 405 cases of measles were recorded in France. By comparison, between January 2016 and December 2016, 79 cases “only” had been recorded …
Caused by a paramyxovirus, measles most often affects young children, in winter or spring – in 2012, more than 40% of patients were between 1 and 9 years old. However, adolescents and adults may also be affected: unfortunately, in those over 15 years of age, in 1 in 2 cases, hospitalization is necessary. In 60% of cases, the child is cured without sequelae, if he has received the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine the first time at 12 months, then twice again, at 16 and 18 months.
According to the Public Health France report, out of the 405 cases recorded between January and July 2017, 168 cases (41% of the total) had to be hospitalized, including 2 cases of encephalitis and 37 cases of severe pneumonia. One patient died: it was a 16-year-old girl.
“France is not immune to a new large-scale epidemic”
“The incidence of reported cases over 12 months (September 2016 – September 2017), compared to the general population of the entire territory, is 0.65 per 100,000 inhabitants, above the threshold of 0.1 cases per 100 000 inhabitants retained by the WHO for the elimination of the disease. This threshold is exceeded in 48 departments, mainly located in the southern half of mainland France. The average age of the patients was 13 years old.
Conclusion of the health authorities? “The current epidemiology of measles shows that France is still endemic to the infection and is not immune from a new large-scale epidemic. (…) This is all the more to be feared as no department is currently achieving 95% vaccination coverage at 2 years for the 2 doses of vaccine, the rate required to allow elimination of the disease. “And you, are you up to date with your vaccines?
Read also :
Unvaccinated, 16-year-old girl dies of measles in Marseille
Measles: watch out for the reduction in vaccination in the United States
Measles: a fine for parents who refuse vaccination
