The number of measles cases in Austria is increasing. More than 100 cases have been reported since the start of the year, 55 of which have been confirmed. A case from Vorarlberg was also announced on Saturday.
Vorarlberg State Health Councilor Martina Rüscher (ÖVP) pointed out the easy transmissibility of the disease and its potential danger and urgently recommended vaccination.
“The vaccination is the safest precaution, it provides reliable protection and is free,” Rüscher appealed to citizens who have not had the disease.
According to AGES (Agency for Health and Food Safety), Vienna is currently particularly affected with 24 and Tyrol with 23 confirmed cases.
Highly contagious infectious disease
Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases of all. The virus is transmitted, for example, when coughing, sneezing or speaking. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, and a reddish-brown rash. The virus can cause serious complications, such as encephalitis and, even after several years, a very rare but fatal long-term consequence: subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE).
The vaccination rate fell
According to the WHO, measles vaccination rates have fallen during the corona pandemic. Persistent gaps in immunity and missed vaccinations have left many people, including many children, vulnerable to this potentially fatal disease. In the WHO European Region alone, approximately 1.8 million babies were not vaccinated against measles between 2020 and 2022.
The regional office explained that it is all the more urgent to step up vaccination efforts to prevent a new spread. All countries must be prepared to “rapidly identify and respond to measles outbreaks in a timely manner.” Otherwise, progress in eradicating measles in Europe would be jeopardized.
Source: Krone
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