It is a tragedy that arises in the midst of the debate on the vaccine obligation: this Tuesday, June 27, 2017, a 16-year-old girl died in the northern hospital of Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône) because of measles.
Because, if this highly contagious infectious disease linked to a paramyxovirus mainly affects children (in 2012, more than 40% of patients were between 1 and 9 years old), adolescents and adults may also be concerned. And unfortunately, in those over 15, in one in two cases, hospitalization is necessary …
The news was made public this Wednesday, July 26, 2017 by the Ministry of Health. “We received a 16-year-old girl from the Nice CHU at the North Hospital of Marseille, because here we have an intensive care unit specializing in severe respiratory distress. On June 13, we had a measles test which came back positive. Her health deteriorated, she died on June 27, ”explained the Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM). The health authorities specify that the teenager was not vaccinated.
Measles killed 134,200 young children in 2015
Since 2008, France has been facing a measles epidemic: in 2011 alone, 15,000 cases were recorded. In total, between January 2008 and December 2015, more than 23,500 cases were identified in France. Latest figure: in 2015, measles killed 134,200 children under 5 around the world …
The measles vaccine is one of 11 vaccines that should become mandatory from 2018 for children under 2 years old. The Minister of Health Agnès Buzyn notably specified that, for the case of measles, “the vaccination coverage at 2 years is currently 78% whereas, as long as it does not reach the level of 95%, the risk periodic waves of epidemics will persist ”.
To read :
Measles: watch out for the reduction in vaccination in the United States
Measles: a fine for parents who refuse vaccination
Measles kills 6-year-old in Italy
