Ministry of Health traces contacts of measles patients

After more than two decades of no reported cases of non-imported measles in the archipelago –more precisely, since 1997–, Ministry of Health government of the Canary Islands reported an outbreak last Friday that affected three minors and one adult.. As the health department explained on Tuesday, focus was fixed in Tenerife. To prevent the spread of the virus, General Directorate of Public Health Canarian Health Service (SKS) continue with tracking contacts of four patients. “At the moment, we have not identified any more positive cases, but we continue to remain vigilant. Although the incubation period lasts up to 12 days, we have increased the range to 21 as a precautionary measure,” he said. Alvaro Torres, Head of Surveillance the aforementioned autonomous executive body.

According to the same source, All four patients are in a favorable condition.. He index register corresponds two and a half year old girl Spanish citizens and foreign parents who have not agreed to vaccination. Other victims: two six month old babies who cannot yet receive prophylaxis. “The parents of the first girl deny that they have traveled abroad and communicated with people who have recently been outside the islands,” Torres commented.

Another victim was a health care worker under the age of 30 who received a full schedule of vaccinations as a child.

. “We know that vaccines provide lifelong immunity, but in medicine there are always exceptions. In addition, the medical literature assures that the vaccinated person is not a carrier of measles, but he also remains isolated and we have traced his contacts,” noted the epidemiologist, who also ensured that the young man has very mild symptoms.

More than 400 people

It should be noted that The 30-month-old girl alone had contact with more than 400 people, as he visited medical centers several times until he received the diagnosis. “This involves providing instructions to many people so that they know what to do if they have any symptoms,” stressed Alvaro Torres. To find out the origin of the pathogensamples from these patients are analyzed in a reference laboratory in Madrid..

Last December World Health Organization (WHO)) warned of a significant increase in infections occurring in Europe. At the time, Romania declared the infection a “national epidemic.” Moreover, European authorities have warned that low vaccination coverage in some countries could lead to a resurgence of the disease on the continent. “We live in a globalized world and people come from all over the world, so it is very important to continue vaccinating children,” the expert said.

Taking care of the latter Weekly report on epidemiological surveillance in Spain from the Carlos III Institute of Health, notifications were received between January 1 and May 19 this year There are 109 cases of measles in the countryof which eight remain under investigation. According to the same document, 16 paintings are imported, 19 are related to previous ones and 17 are of unknown origin. There are no data on endemic cases.

“It is very important to continue vaccinating children,” insists epidemiologist Alvaro Torres.

lThe community reporting the most cases is Catalonia., where there are 44. It is followed by the Valencian Community with 15; Aragon – 12; Andalusia – 10; Castile-La Mancha – six; Castile and Leon – five; Canary Islands, Galicia and Madrid – four; Navarre – two; and Asturias, Balearic Islands and Murcia – one each. Other regions did not report any suspicions.

The figures are very different from those found for the same period last year, since in the period from January 2 to May 21, only 19 paintings were counted in Spain – two of them were under study. Now, last January, the Ministry of Health confirmed to this publication that The archipelago closed 2023 with a zero count. In fact, there were six suspected cases that ultimately did not match the disease.

According to the vaccination schedule of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands, The first measles, rubella, and mumps (MMR) triple vaccine injection should be given on your first birthday., and the second should be available in three years. “If a child or adult is not vaccinated correctly, you can order an injection at medical centers. We must remember that the only way to avoid these outbreaks is through vaccination, and that it is important to get both doses,” stressed Alvaro Torres.

It should be noted thatThe archipelago is the seventh region of the country with the lowest level of vaccination coverage with the second dose of this drug.. This is reflected in the latest updated data from the Ministry of Health, dated 2022. At that time, the proportion of the target population receiving two injections was 90.32%, which is below the average. The 95% target set by the Ministry. Main reason? The emergence of the coronavirus pandemic. However, in terms of first doses, the islands are close to the 95% threshold.

Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus belonging to the paramyxovirus family.

. It is transmitted through the air. Initial symptoms are characterized by the appearance of rhinitis, cough, fever and conjunctivitis. “Between the third and fourth day after symptoms begin, hives usually appear on the face. They then spread throughout the body and reach the limbs. Finally they disappear,” explained a specialist from the Main Directorate of Health.

The clinical picture usually lasts from seven to ten days.. However, although in most cases the disease is usually mild or moderate, sometimes it can cause encephalitis, meningitis, pneumonia and even death of victims. Hence the importance of vaccination. “The fact that you’ve had the condition once before also confers immunity,” Torres said.

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