The Ministry of Health considers the measles outbreak in Alicante to be under control: four cases

lto the Department of Health took control measles outbreak stated in Alicante, with four confirmed cases and after which there were no new infections, health sources confirmed to this newspaper. A few weeks ago, pediatricians across the province began receiving notifications from General Directorate of Public HealthSo They will tighten control over suspected measles cases after the outbreak is detected, since it is a virus very contagious. “This is a disease that has not been reported for many years, so if this warning did not exist, some pediatricians might have missed it,” pediatric consultants explained to this newspaper. A highly contagious virus, against which the best prevention is vaccination.

In particular, in cases Alicante These were two children who became infected during recent trip to Russia and, later, two people from his entourage. Along with another outbreak that has affected five people in the province Toledowere first outbreaks recorded in Spain since 2020. One of the main problems of the disease is that it is highly contagious, but in Spain it has been kept under control. thanks to high vaccination rates. The World Health Organization has linked rising infections in Europe to a decline in vaccinations following the pandemic years.

Experts attribute the rise in measles incidence to an influx of people from countries with poorer health care and the rise of anti-vaccination movements. In UK and France There has been a significant increase, but in Spain vaccination rates are considered much higher.

Pediatricians

“In order to prevent the virus from circulating, it is necessary to ensure a very high vaccination coverage, more than 95 percent,” Fernando Moraga-Llop, former President Catalan Pediatric Society and representative and senior member Spanish Association of Vaccinologists. The vaccine in Spain consists of two doses: the first at twelve months, which is part of the MMR vaccine. The second is from 3 to 4 years old. “To prevent the virus from circulating, we must try to achieve 95% vaccination coverage with both doses,” he explained. In this sense, he emphasized that among children vaccinated with the first dose, the average vaccination rate exceeds 97 percent, and for the second – 93.9%. However, he clarified that although in general figures the average vaccination rate is good. There are five communities whose second dose rates are below 90%.numbers that needed to be improved.

For his part, the pediatrician Mara Garcesmember Valencian Society of Pediatrics He emphasized that currently both Spain and Valencian Community They had a very good situation with measles. “This vaccine-preventable disease. However, it is highly contagious. One case can infect 25 to 30 people if they are not vaccinated,” he explained. Garces emphasized that of these new cases there is none of your own, but these were imported cases. “There were people outside Spain who had contact with other people who had measles,” he explained, so he emphasized that the high level of vaccination allows infections are blocked and the virus does not circulate.

In this sense, he emphasized that vaccination is the best way to prevent the spread of the virus. Garces noted since 2012 Spain is a measles-free country Although new cases imported from other countries are emerging, they are being blocked in Spain. Regarding the anti-vaccination movement, he noted that people who do not attach significant importance to vaccination alsowe benefit from vaccinating others, which stops infections. However, he emphasized that measles is a serious disease and can lead to significant mortality, especially among children. “The vaccine is safe,” he insisted.