Measles or as it is called “Khasra” is a highly contagious, serious disease caused by a virus. The disease is highly communicable, and common among children. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has asserted saying that a single case can lead to 12 to 18 infections.
Some regions in India are seeing a massive surge in the number of measles cases, Mumbai is at the top with 807 cases and 18 deaths, most of them from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Kerala’s Malappuram reported 160 cases so far. The government is urging parents to be on the lookout for the signs and symptoms of the disease and ensure that their children are vaccinated against Measles.
Indian Academy of Paediatricians stepped in and appealed for vaccination amid the reportedly alarming hike in the cases. “So far there hasn’t been any mortality due to Measles in the district,” said Dr.Jose Ouseph, state president of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Kerala.
An increased number of Measles cases have also been reported in Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, and Jharkhand.
“It is also clear that in all such geographies, the affected children were predominantly unvaccinated and the average coverage of Measles and Rubella Containing Vaccine (MRCV) among the eligible beneficiaries is also significantly below the national average,” Health Ministry’s Joint Secretary P Ashok Babu said in the letter.
What is Measles?
Measles is a childhood infection caused by a virus. Once quite common, measles can now almost always be prevented with a vaccine. Also called Rubeola or Rubella, measles spreads easily and can be serious and even fatal for small children. While death rates have been falling worldwide as more children receive the measles vaccine, the disease still kills more than 200,000 people a year, mostly children.
What are the Symptoms?
Measles signs and symptoms appear around 10 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Signs and symptoms of measles typically include:
- Dry cough
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis)
- Tiny white spots with bluish-white centers on a red background found inside the mouth on the lining of the cheek— also called Koplik’s spots
- A skin rash made up of large, flat blotches that often flow into one another.
Prevention
The mainstay of protection from measles is vaccination. The Indian Academy of Pediatrics recommends 3 doses of MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine for different age groups.
- The first dose of the MMR vaccine should be given at 9 months
- The second vaccine should be given at 15 months
- The third dose should be given between 4-6 years.
Infected children should be isolated from others to prevent the spread of the virus. A good diet, proper hydration, and maintaining hygiene along with taking antibiotics will help fight measles infection. MMR vaccination in a two-doses schedule has also successfully eliminated Measles, Mumps, and Rubella from many developed countries.
