Measles is a viral disease that mainly affects children (Getty)
A report of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned about the increase in measles cases around the world as a consequence of the decrease in coverage of vaccination.
According to the organizations, after years of declines in measles vaccination coverage, cases of the disease in 2022 increased by 18% and deaths by 43% worldwide, compared to 2021. These figures raise the estimated number of measles cases to 9 million and deaths to 136,000, of which the majority are children.
“Measles continues to pose an increasing threat to children. In 2022, 37 countries experienced significant or disturbing measles outbreaks, compared to 22 countries in 2021, the document presented by the organizations stated. Of the countries that experienced outbreaks, 28 were in the WHO African Region, six in the Eastern Mediterranean, two in Southeast Asia and one in the European Region.”
The CDC and WHO urged countries to vaccinate all children against measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases (Photo: CDC)
John Vertefeuille is director of the CDC’s Division of Global Immunization, and acknowledged that “the increase in measles outbreaks and deaths is staggering, but unfortunately not unexpected given the decline in vaccination rates seen in recent years.” .
And after ensuring that “measles cases anywhere represent a risk for all countries and communities where people are not sufficiently vaccinated,” he considered that “it is essential to make urgent and specific efforts to prevent disease and deaths from measles.” ”.
“Measles cases anywhere pose a risk to all countries and communities where people are not sufficiently vaccinated. It is essential to make urgent and targeted efforts to prevent disease and deaths from measles,” he added.
According to experts, “the lack of recovery of measles vaccine coverage in low-income countries after the pandemic is an alarm signal to act” (Europa Press)
Measles is a viral disease that mainly affects children, and in some cases it can present complications. Because it is one of the most transmissible infections, the protection provided by the vaccine is especially important.
The disease can be prevented with two doses of measles vaccine – in Argentina it is the triple viral vaccine (SRP), which is included in the national vaccination schedule. Just a year ago – in November 2022 – the WHO had warned that the global vaccination rate in children was the lowest since 2008.
And while 2022 saw a modest increase in global vaccination coverage over 2021, there were still 33 million children who missed a dose of measles vaccine: nearly 22 million missed their first dose and another 11 million missed your second dose.
The global vaccination coverage rate for the first dose of 83% and the second dose of 74% was still well below the 95% two-dose coverage needed to protect communities from sprouts.
WHO: “Measles continues to pose an increasing threat to children” (Getty)
Low-income countries, where the risk of death from measles is highest, continue to have the lowest vaccination rates, at just 66%; a rate that does not show any recovery from the decline during the pandemic.
Of the 22 million children who did not receive their first dose of measles vaccine in 2022, more than half live in just 10 countries: Angola, Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Nigeria, Pakistan and the Philippines.
“The lack of recovery of measles vaccine coverage in low-income countries after the pandemic is a warning signal to act. Measles is called the virus of inequality for good reason. It is the disease that will find and attack those who are not protected,” said Kate O’Brien, director of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals at the WHO, who emphasized that “children around the world have the right to be protected by measles vaccine, which will save their lives, no matter where they live.”
In this context, CDC and WHO urged countries to vaccinate all children against measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases and encouraged global stakeholders to help countries vaccinate their most vulnerable communities.
If they are not vaccinated, young children are at greater risk of complications from measles and death. People who are pregnant and have not been immunized are also a risk group.
2023-11-20 21:38:00
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