MEASLES - SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
News: Centre rushes teams to 3 cities to help contain measles outbreak
What's in the news?
● The
Centre set up high-level teams to tackle the measles outbreak in Ranchi, Ahmedabad and Malappuram.
● The
teams will assist the respective State Health Departments in instituting public
health measures and facilitate operationalization of requisite control and
containment measures.
● Senior Regional Directors of Regional Offices of Health and Family Welfare of Jharkhand, Gujarat and Kerala will coordinate with the respective teams regarding their visits.
Measles:
● It
is a highly contagious viral disease
that kills young children all over the world.
● It
is especially dangerous for children from low-income families, as it targets
malnourished children and those with weakened immune systems.
● It can lead to blindness, encephalitis, severe diarrhea, ear infection, and pneumonia, among other serious complications.
Transmission:
● It's
a contagious illness spread by mucus and
saliva.
● The
virus is released into the air when a measles-infected person sneezes or
coughs.
● The measles virus can spread through the air. As a result, anyone in that area could be infected by the virus.
Symptoms:
● Initial
symptoms usually occur 10 - 12 days after infection and comprise high fever,
runny nose, bloodshot eyes and Koplik's
spots (tiny white spots on the inside of the mouth).
● Several days later, a rash develops and the most severe complication includes blindness, encephalitis (an infection that causes brain swelling), severe diarrhea and pneumonia.
Treatment:
● There
is no specific medical treatment.
● An
established measles infection has no treatment, but over-the-counter fever
reducers or vitamin A may help with symptoms.
● Measles
vaccination falls under the Universal
Immunization Program. India has a
target of eliminating the viral disease by 2023.
● As
per the guidance of National Health Mission, in India, measles vaccination is given under the Universal Immunization
Program at 9-12 months of age and the second dose at 16-24 months of age.
● The
WHO recommends immunization for all children with two doses of measles vaccine,
either alone, or in a measles-rubella (MR)
or measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)
combination.