A growing number of youngsters world wide are vulnerable to measles as vaccination rates have declined to the bottom levels since 2008, global health leaders warned on Wednesday.
The Covid-19 pandemic badly disrupted routine vaccination services which resulted in hundreds of thousands of youngsters missing their measles shots, in response to a report from the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
About 81% of youngsters worldwide received the primary dose of the measles vaccine in 2021, down from 86% in 2019 before the Covid pandemic began. This leaves 25 million kids vulnerable to measles, according the report.
Public health experts estimate 95% of youngsters should be vaccinated against measles to stop outbreaks. The measles vaccine is available in two doses, but the primary shot is an important since it’s 93% effective at stopping disease.
Regular progress has been made toward eliminating measles over the past 20 years. Deaths from measles have dropped 83% globally from 761,000 in 2000 to 128,000 in 2021 as vaccine coverage has increased, in response to the report.
But CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky and WHO Chief Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in separate statements Wednesday, expressed concern that measles could stage a comeback as vaccination rates have been falling for 2 years now.
The U.S. officially eliminated measles greater than 20 years but travelers sometimes bring the virus into the country. This may cause outbreaks if vaccination rates are too low of their communities, in response to the CDC.
Measles is one of the vital contagious diseases known to humans. It poses a serious health risk for youngsters younger than age 5, adults older than age 20, pregnant women and other people with compromised immune systems.
The virus spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes and it may possibly linger within the air for as much as two hours. Measles is so contagious that a one who gets infected will pass it on to 90% of their close contacts who are usually not protected, in response to the CDC.
One in five unvaccinated individuals who catch measles are hospitalized, in response to the CDC. One in 20 unvaccinated kids who catch measles develop pneumonia, 3 in 1,000 develop brain swelling, and as many as 3 in every 1,000 will die from respiratory or neurological complications.
Symptoms start with a high fever that may spike to greater than 104 degrees, a cough and a runny nose. White spots then appear contained in the mouth and a rash of reds spots breaks out across the body.
The 2-dose vaccine is 97% effective at stopping measles. The primary dose is run at age 1 yr to fifteen months, and the second dose is given between ages 4 and 6 years old.
