After the WHO, it is the turn of Unicef to express its deep concern about the resurgence of measles. The measles virus is growing strongly around the world, while this highly contagious disease is preventable by vaccination. 98 countries reported an increase in measles cases in 2018 compared to last year, points out Unicef, which has identified the ten countries most affected by the return of this viral infection.
Worryingly, France occupies tenth place among the countries where measles exploded between 2018 and 2017, with 2,269 additional cases recorded.
Ukraine (30,338 additional cases in 2018), the Philippines (113,192 more cases) and Brazil (10,262 cases) are the three countries with the largest increase in cases between 2017 and 2018.
Measles is a very contagious viral disease, more thanEbola, the tuberculosis Where influenza. Unicef recalls that the virus spreads through the air and infects the respiratory tract, endangering the life of malnourished children or babies too young to be vaccinated. Once infected, there is no specific treatment against measles, hence the importance of vaccination.
“It’s a wake-up call. We have a safe, effective and inexpensive vaccine against a highly contagious disease – a vaccine that has saved nearly a million lives each year for the past two decades.” , said in a statement from Unicef Henrietta H. Fore, its director general.
The cry of alarm from the United Nations Children’s Fund comes days after the publication of a WHO report on measles in Europe. It reported a considerable increase in cases in 2018. More than 82,500 people contracted measles on the European continent in 2018, which is 15 times higher than in 2016.
A compulsory vaccine for children
In France, since January 1, 2018, vaccination against measles has been one of the 11 compulsory vaccinesin children. A person infected with this virus can infect 15 to 20 people in the event of insufficient vaccination coverage in the entourage, recalls ARS Rhône-Alpes, while several cases of measles have been observed at the ski resort of Val-Thorens. Vaccination effectively protects against disease in almost 100% of cases after two doses of the vaccine.
How to protect yourself against #Measles ?
✅ Vaccination is the only effective individual and collective protection
✅ For anyone aged at least 12 months and born after 1980: it is urgent to check their vaccination↪ Find out more: https://t.co/ENxZYnMLnZpic.twitter.com/2uWEnSwsYG
– Ministry of Solidarity and Health (@MinSoliSante) March 1, 2019
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