The World Health Organization (WHO) issued an alert after an increase in measles cases. The increase in virus outbreaks is linked to a drop in the vaccination rate around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a decrease in the application of the first dose to levels not seen in 15 years.
A report published jointly by the WHO and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that Millions of children did not receive vaccines during the 2020 health emergency. This caused an 18% increase in estimated measles cases and a 43% increase in deaths caused by the virus in 2022. The agency mentions that 37 large or disruptive outbreaks during this period.
The reason measles is on the rise is because there is no optimal coverage in the application of the vaccine. Before the pandemic, the percentage of people vaccinated with the first dose was 86% worldwide, a figure that fell to 81% in 2021. Added to that, only 65 countries of the 194 that make up the WHO reached the recommended rate of 95% for the first dose.
Report points out coverage against measles decreased in low-income countries. The 10 countries with the highest number of infants who did not receive their first vaccine are led by Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia and India. Brazil is on the list with 0.5 million unprotected babies.
In contrast, the second dose coverage rate has increased considerably in the last 20 years, although it still does not reach the levels recommended by the WHO.
One of the milestones of the last decade was the eradication of measles in America. The WHO reported in 2016 that the American Continent was the first region free of the virus, thanks to an effective vaccination campaign.
After three years, a New York county declared a state of emergency following a measles outbreak. The disease spread largely due to anti-vaccine groups, who accuse adverse effects from over-vaccination (such as autism). Although there is no scientific evidence to support or contradict these statements, many parents choose not to immunize their children.
Outbreaks of measles and other viruses plummeted during the 2020 health emergency, however, the percentage of cases has increased in the last two years. The misinformation and lack of recovery in coverage Red lights were raised at the World Health Organization, which hopes to reach a rate of 95% with two doses by 2030.
“Globally, the decline in vaccine coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic has shown some recovery in 2022; However, the trend is not consistent in all regions,” the report mentions. “Vaccination coverage declined most in low-income countries, where the risk of death from measles is probably higher”.
Measles is an infectious-contagious disease caused by a virus. Symptoms take 10 to 14 days to appear and include fever, dry cough, sore throat, and tiny white spots inside the mouth. One of the Distinctive features It is the presence of a rash with red spots that start on the face and spread throughout the body.