Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1156727
4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 AUGUST 2019 NEWS What is measles? Measles is a highly contagious disease that can be transmitted through the air. It could also be potentially lethal. In Europe last year, 40 people died with complications that followed a measles infection. Measles can lead to encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and cause pneumonia. Symptoms include: High temperature (fever), which may reach around 40oC Cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, and a cough Sore, red eyes that may be sensitive to light Small greyish-white spots on the inside of the cheeks (Koplik spots) A few days later, a red-brown blotchy rash will appear. This usually starts on the head or upper neck, before spreading outwards to the rest of the body. Contagion Measles is spread from person to person through the air by infectious droplets when a person coughs or sneezes; it is highly contagious. You can catch measles by breathing in these droplets or, if the droplets have settled on a surface, by touching the surface and then placing your hands near your nose or mouth. The virus can survive on surfaces for a few hours. People with measles are infectious from when the symptoms develop (usually 4 days before rash) until about four days after the rash first appears. The MMR vaccine is vital in preventing the virus from spreading. The vaccine is normally administered in two doses, with the first guaranteeing 93% immunisation, which is bumped up to 97% upon administration of the second dose. Measles this year There were 31 recorded cases of measles by the first week of August. Six are potentially imported. Two cases involved babies less than a year old, who were not yet vaccinated since the vaccine is administered at 13 months. 5 cases occurred in children aged 1-8 years. Four of these were Maltese, and one foreign. 11 cases involved young adults between the ages of 16 and 35. Eight of these were Maltese, and three foreign. 13 cases involved people older than 35. 10 were Maltese and three foreign. In each of these cases, the health authorities trace other individuals who may have come in contact and urge them to take the vaccine. Foreigners and travel Third country nationals who apply to work in hospitals, old people's homes, and other care facilities, have to receive the MMR vaccine. All health workers are also vaccinated. The health authorities have also started advising travel agents to inform people of the importance of being vaccinated against measles when travelling to countries like Italy and France where there is a high number of cases of measles if they are not immune. Anti-vax mums: in Italy the movement against vaccination has attracted populist and nationalist forces CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Malta introduced the MMR vaccine on the national health service in 1982. It is given to all babies born here and last year the coverage rate was 95%. The strong vaccination programme has en- sured the eradication of measles and ru- bella but worldwide, health authorities have seen a rise in measles infections. The return of measles in most parts of the western world is due to a very vocal anti-vaccine movement that still holds on to Wakefield's fake research. Gauci advised parents to seek profes- sional medical assistance if they are concerned about vaccines, rather than seek information on the internet or so- cial media. "It is not acceptable for a parent to leave their child unvaccinated unless there is a valid medical reason, such as a child undergoing cancer treatment. Vaccine hesitancy worries us. There is a small but vocal anti-vaccination lobby that spreads irrational fear about vac- cinations but a recent Danish study of over half a million children showed there was absolutely no correlation be- tween MMR and autism," Gauci said. The findings of a decade-long study by researchers at Copenhagen's Statens Serum Institut were released in March this year. Researchers examined data for more than half a million Danish children born from 1999 through the end of 2010. The epidemiologists and statisticians used population registries to link infor- mation on vaccination status to autism diagnoses, and to sibling history of au- tism and other risk factors. The findings confirmed what was al- ready medical consensus that the MMR vaccine does not increase the risk of au- tism. Gauci insisted it is never too late to get vaccinated. "I advise anyone below 50 to check whether they are vaccinated, ei- ther through the myhealth online por- tal, or by contacting the immunisation department. Anybody born after 1982 can get the vaccine for free through the National Immunisation Service as part of the National Immunisation Sched- ule." ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt 'Parents must seek professional medical assistance if concerned about vaccines' Public health superintendent Prof. Charmaine Gauci