• Vaccines: WHO alerts measles regrowth in four European countries, including the United Kingdom

Measles is a viral disease much more contagious than the flu, whose natural reservoir is the human being. Just a week ago the World Health Organization (WHO) warned in a report of the rapid progress of measles in Europe, with the regrowth of the disease in four countries in which it was considered eradicated: United Kingdom, Albania, Greece and the Czech Republic .

Spain maintains, according to this report, the status of a measles-free country, but the WHO document has triggered a new concern in much of the population, although its current management in Spain is the same since three years ago , reinforced in September 2018 by the Ministry of Health and Consumption with a document of Vaccination in Adult Population that recommends the administration of two doses of triple viral (TV) - measles, rubella and mumps - in people born in Spain since 1970; In those born previously, it is assumed that they have suffered measles.

This recommendation responds to the fact that the last measles outbreaks in Spain show a greater number of cases in people born between 1970 and 2000. TV was introduced in the vaccination calendar in Spain in 1981, with high coverage since then , but many cases even among those born from that year, they lack documentation that certifies that they have been vaccinated.

TV is highly effective, so the disease can be eradicated by vaccination. Pediatrician Fernando Moraga-Llop, first vice president of the Spanish Association of Vaccination (AEV), clarifies some doubts:

Who should get vaccinated? Anyone - child or adult - from 12 months of age who is not vaccinated with two doses or has not had the disease. If there is no certainty of one or another situation, it is recommended to be vaccinated equally, since vaccination does not carry any risk even if it is already vaccinated. In case of doubt, it is also possible to do a serology to confirm if the subject is immune or susceptible. What should I do to get vaccinated? Go to the pediatrician - in the case of children or adolescents - and to the attending physician in adults so that administer the vaccine A situation that has been in effect for three years. How much is the vaccine going to cost me? TV is financed in the national health system and is administered in health centers, so it has no cost for the publicly covered population . However, you can also buy in a private capacity in the pharmacy and look for a private center where they can administer it. What symptoms does measles have? In adults without previous complications it presents with high fever, runny nose, symptoms similar to those of a common cold and conjunctivitis, in addition to the characteristic rash or rash. Is it serious? In most cases, no. But it is not a benign disease; and in one of every 1,000 adults it can have some more or less serious neurological complication. How is it spread? Contagion is produced by air through the viruses that are excreted in sneezing, by the respiratory route or conjunctival secretions. It can occur from five days before the spots appear, in the incubation period, up to five days later. It is estimated that an infected person can transmit the virus to another 12 to 18 unvaccinated or immunized people. How is the disease growing? Professionals and authorities are realizing a fairly important international regrowth. WHO planned to eradicate it between 2015 and 2020 and will not be possible due to the current high rates of the disease. In the first half of 2019 the number of cases worldwide has tripled compared to the same period of 2018, and in the WHO European Region it has doubled. Why is that regrowth taking place? In developed countries, for the non-vaccination between groups of anti-vaccines or reluctant parents to vaccinate the children, while in other countries it may be due to military conflicts or lack of resources that hinder the vaccination of the population.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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