![Measles: nearly 10 times fewer cases in a year](https://img.passeportsante.net/1000x526/2021-04-06/i101203-baisse-nombre-cas-rougeole-france-2020.jpeg)
As every year, Public Health France publishes its measles surveillance data in France. In 2020, an incredible drop in measles was observed in the territory with nearly 10 times fewer cases than the previous year. A finding that could be explained, among other things, by the measures put in place to fight against the Covid-19 epidemic.
Ten times less measles in 2020 than in 2019
According to the annual report of measles surveillance data from Public Health France, the country recorded ten times less measles in 2020 than the previous year. In detail, 240 cases of measles were declared in 2020 against 2,636 cases in 2019. Like most European countries, France experienced a rapid drop in the number of measles cases from April 2020 before experience an almost non-existent viral circulation in its territory. ” Following an epidemic year 2019, viral circulation remained active during the first quarter of 2020, with 230 cases (96%) declared between weeks 1 and 13, then became almost absent from April 2020, until during the 1st quarter of 2021 »Details the report.
According to the data, the circulation of the virus has been limited to a third of the entire territory, precisely in 34 departments. The majority of cases were essentially sporadic cases with the exception of 6 departments where epidemic foci were observed during the 1st trimester, mainly in communities of Travelers.
How to explain this meteoric decline?
Santé Publique France explains this unprecedented situation for two reasons. The first is improving infant immunization coverage since MMR vaccination (against measles, mumps and rubella) is now mandatory since January 1, 2018. The second reason for this dramatic drop in the number of measles cases in France is linked to government measures put in place by the authorities to fight the Covid-19 epidemic.
In fact, barrier gestures (wearing a mask, social distancing, etc.) and isolation measures have contributed to limiting the circulation of the measles virus in the territory, as is also the case for other respiratory pathogens such as flu, bronchiolitis or gastroenteritis.