Two major international health authorities have sounded the alarm over the next “imminent threat” to global health.
Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warn that persistent outbreaks of measles, coupled with declining measles vaccination rates, are an “imminent threat in every region of the world”.
Measles is a highly contagious viral illness and is spread through coughing and sneezing. The virus is hardy and can survive in the air and on surfaces for several hours.
Typical measles symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, sore throat and red, itchy eyes. After a few days of initial symptoms, a rash usually appears on the face and/or neck before spreading across the body. The rash can last for up to a week.
Read: Research opens door for COVID nasal spray vaccine
The virus can progress into pneumonia and even encephalitis (brain inflammation).
A measles vaccine has been available in Australia since 1969 and has become part of the standard suite of vaccinations given to infants. After two doses, you’re considered to have lifetime immunity.
Unlike other vaccines, which typically use dormant or inactive virus strains, the measles jab contains live virus. While this is safe for the general population, it is not considered suitable for the immunocompromised.
This has made the measles vaccine a target of the anti-vax movement. Add in a general complacency about measles and vaccination rates have plummeted in recent decades.
Read: Wet spring means more mosquitoes – and Japanese encephalitis
WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says measles vaccine rates have fallen even further since the start of the pandemic and there were more than nine million measles cases worldwide in 2021, resulting in 128,000 deaths.
“The paradox of the pandemic is that while vaccines against COVID-19 were developed in record time and deployed in the largest vaccination campaign in history, routine immunisation programs were badly disrupted,” he says.
“Getting immunisation programs back on track is absolutely critical. Behind every statistic in this report is a child at risk of a preventable disease.”
CDC director Dr Rochelle Walensky agrees that the pandemic has had a heavy impact on measles vaccine rates globally.
Read: Polio cases emerge overseas and Australia starts testing
“The record number of children under-immunised and susceptible to measles shows the profound damage immunisation systems have sustained during the COVID-19 pandemic,” she says.
“Measles outbreaks illustrate weaknesses in immunisation programs, but public health officials can use outbreak response to identify communities at risk, understand causes of under-vaccination, and help deliver locally tailored solutions to ensure vaccinations are available to all.”
Older Australians born before 1957 were likely exposed to measles outbreaks, and therefore will have developed a natural immunity to the virus, say health authorities.
For those born after 1957, you will most likely have received a measles vaccine when you were young. If you didn’t, it’s important to catch up now, so speak with your GP.
Did you receive the measles vaccine as a child? Can you remember measles outbreaks? Let us know in the comments section below.
Disclaimer:This article contains general information about health issues and is not advice. For health advice, consult your medical practitioner.
