WHO warns of new measles epidemic

At the end of November, WHO released article, which outlined measles as an impending global threat. According to the organization, in 2021, at least 40 million children around the world did not receive a second measles vaccine - or did not receive one.

Measles is an acute respiratory disease that spreads through the air, like COVID-19. At the same time, it is extremely contagious: if patients with the COVID-19 omicron strain infect on average 8 people, then in measles this indicator is 12-18 people.

Moderate disease presents with a rash and high fever, but complications may include encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), pneumonia, and blindness. Now about 9 million people a year fall ill with measles, 128 thousand die as a result of the disease.

Measles vaccines show effectiveness about 99%. In Russia, both measles-only vaccines and combined vaccines are used - immediately against measles, mumps ("mumps") and rubella. Usually the first vaccine is administered at 12 months, the second at 7 years.

In developing countries with low vaccination rates, one in ten cases of infection ends in death. In developing countries, rabbit mortality is 1 per 1000-5000 cases, depending on the specific region, deaths predominate among unvaccinated people.

It is noted that for herd immunity 95% of the population needs to be vaccinated. But most countries now fall short of this mark. Globally, 71% of people on average received both doses of the vaccine, and 81% received at least one. This is the lowest figure since 2008.

One of the reasons is the COVID-19 pandemic: although vaccines were developed quite quickly, less attention was paid to standard vaccinations, including because of the reluctance to visit the hospital once again. As a result, we have found ourselves in a situation where re-establishing measles vaccination programs is critical.