971 cases of measles have been
reported in the United States this year as per the CDC. The year now
has the greatest number of cases in a single year in nearly three
decades. The number of cases in 1994 was 963, which was lower than in 1992
when there were 2,237 cases. Cases have been reported in 26 states this year so
far.
Measles was officially
eliminated in the United States in 2000, meaning it was no longer continuously
transmitted in the country.
Before widespread use of
the highly effective measles vaccine, around 30-40
lakh people got measles each year in the US with 400 to 500
deaths and 48,000 hospitalizations.
Today in India around 27
lakh children get measles.
· Measles
is preventable but also is highly contagious.
· The attack
rate in a susceptible individual exposed to measles is 90%.
· The
period of contagiousness is estimated to be from 5 days before the appearance
of rash to 4 days afterward.
· Infectious
droplets from the respiratory secretions of a patient with measles can remain
airborne for up to 2 hours. Therefore, the illness may be transmitted in public
spaces, even in the absence of person-to-person contact.
· During
the first few weeks after contracting measles, a child’s immune system becomes
weakened, and a normal cold or diarrhea can become a life-threatening illness.
· Vaccines are
safe, they do not cause autism. In communities with 95% or more of
residents who are vaccinated against the virus, herd immunity works. That's
when unvaccinated people are protected because so many of those around them
are.
·
At 9 months and then again at 18 months every child needs
to get the MR vaccine.
Dr KK Aggarwal
Padma Shri Awardee
President Elect Confederation of
Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania
(CMAAO)
Group Editor-in-Chief IJCP Publications
President Heart Care Foundation of
India
Past National President
IMA
No comments:
Post a Comment