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Measles is one of the most contagious diseases. 20 km from the Polish border, in the city of Wołkowysk in Belarus, 24 cases of this disease have already been reported. Only ten days was enough to triple the number of patients. According to the Belarusian Ministry of Health – 80 percent. the sick were not vaccinated. Is Poland threatened by an epidemic?
As of March 15, the lab confirmed 24 measles cases. The condition of all patients is assessed from light to moderate, according to the press office of the Belarusian Ministry of Health. According to the data of the ministry, 80 percent. the sick were not vaccinated.
Measles is still difficult across the continent, admits the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The largest number of patients is currently in Serbia.
Measles cases in Europe tripled in 2017, and low vaccination rates are fueling new outbreaks. At the end of 2017, a sharp increase in the incidence of the disease was recorded in Ukraine, and since the beginning of this year, over 4 people have been registered there. sick. Nevertheless, the authorities in Kiev do not intend to declare an epidemic for the time being.
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) in its February report said that last year, there were 30 measles cases in 14 European countries, compared with 451 cases in 2016. This increase is due to the high number of cases in Romania (over 4 thousand), Italy (almost 643 thousand), Greece (almost 10,6 thousand) and Germany (over 5).
In Poland, the situation was not as bad as in Romania or Italy (each of these countries has more or nearly as many patients as before on the entire continent), but this year it may change.
Measles is still dangerous. What is the situation in Poland?
According to the data of the National Institute of Public Health-National Institute of Hygiene (NIZP-PZH), there were 2017 cases in 63 (in 2016 – 133, in 2015 – 48). – In 2016, an epidemic broke out in Belarus, as a result of which in Poland we also had an increase in the number of people who came from that region. The disease has also spread to other ethnic minorities who do not vaccinate and are hard to get.
Currently, sanitary services are closely monitoring whether new cases of measles in Poland are still a disease of immigrants from ethnic minorities, or perhaps as a result of anti-vaccination movements and a tendency not to vaccinate children, measles is attacking Polish society. This would mean crossing a fine line of safety and the risk that unvaccinated people will become ill – both those who could not get vaccinated for health reasons, and those who were not vaccinated by their parents.
What is measles?
Measles is an infectious disease of the respiratory tract, caused by the measles virus (paramyxoviruses). Although an effective vaccine has been developed, the disease remains one of the leading causes of death in children in developing countries. All children who lack immunity and have previously had contact with the virus are infected. The first measles virus was isolated in 1954, it came from an 11-year-old boy from the USA. Measles are characterized by a rash that appears all over the body and the presence of flu-like symptoms, e.g. cough, high temperature, runny nose. A child with measles should drink plenty of fluids and, above all, get plenty of rest. It is important to isolate the patient so that measles is not passed on to others.
How does measles become infected?
The measles virus is infected by droplets, i.e. as a result of direct contact with the virus carrier. Rarely, cases of sick people who become infected with measles through contact with objects used by an infected person can be observed (infection by contact with the patient’s clothing is possible, but at a short distance). Incubation period: from infection until the onset of typical measles symptoms, it usually lasts 9-14 days. Measles is an infectious disease – it is infectious for 5 days before the rash appears and 4 days after it has resolved. Measles cases are mainly observed in winter and early spring.
Measles – complications
Complications after measles usually affect the youngest patients. Then, pneumonia, middle ear and laryngitis may appear. However, the most dangerous are neurological complications.