It takes just fifteen minutes to become infected

Belgian sewage water is regularly investigated in the laboratory. The recent analysis gave an unexpected result, detecting measles virus.

« We were shocked by concentration. It turned out to be a Moroccan version. In Morocco, the measles are currently rampant, and many European countries are suffering, » said Elke Wollants, the head of the laboratory.

More than 25,000 people have been registered in Morocco in the last two years. measles cases. 120 people died of this virus.

However, the situation in Europe is also not excited.

« The situation where nearly 130,000 measles have been recorded in 2024 are unacceptable and require immediate action, » said Dragan Jankovic, an official of the World Health Organization.

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« The worst situation about measles is currently in Romania, Italy, Germany, Austria and Belgium, » said Edita Jegelevičienė, a specialist at the National Public Health Center.

Romania has not been able to extinguish the virus fireplace for almost a year – last year over 30,000 people have become infected. people, more than two dozen died. However, only a little more than half of the Romanians are vaccinated.

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control predicts that the outbreak of measles will increase further this spring in Europe.

« We need to act immediately to increase the volume of immunization, which decreased through the Covid-19 pandemic, » Jankovic stressed.

The situation in Lithuania is also worrying.

« The situation is indeed threatening. Last year we had 30 measles in Lithuania. Maybe the number does not seem very large, but compared to 2023, when there were only three cases, the morbidity increased tenfold, » said E. Jegelevičienė.

Three or four years ago, there were no measles at all in Lithuania. Two cases have already been approved this year – one of them this week.

The virus returns with a bang because people are no longer vaccinated.

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« After the COVID-19 pandemic, when vaccination was delayed, many parents did not return to vaccinate their children. Some people were just tired of promoting vaccinations, and began to look at all vaccines, although the measles vaccine has been used for many years, » said Jegelevičienė.

« Vaccines against measles are one of the safest ones we have, » said Richard Kuhn, a professor at Purdue University.

This virus is so contagious that even after the person who is infected, it can remain in the room for a few more hours.

Some experts suggest you take stricter measures.

« If it were to depend on me, I would make the measles vaccinated with the mandatory with the polio vaccine, » Wollants said.

The virus spreads lightning – it takes just 15 minutes to become infected.

« If you are indoors with 100 people, at least 90 of them will be infected with measles, if the room has an infection carrier, » Kuhn explained.

« This virus is so contagious that even after the person who is infected, it can remain in the room for a few more hours, » added Shandy Dearth, Director of Indiana University Health School.

The virus usually spreads to the air, but it can also be transmitted from contaminated surfaces.

« Coughing, temperature rises, and then a rash, » Dearth explained.

« We see complications such as ear and eye infections, pneumonia and very dangerous encephalitis, which occurs in 1 in 1,000 patients, » Wollants warned.

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Children’s spring holidays are approaching, so some foreign experts do not recommend going to measles outbreak areas. However, the Lithuanian National Center for Public Health says it is not necessary to limit itself.

« If a child or adult has not received a vaccine according to the prophylactic vaccine calendar, it should simply be vaccinated, » advised E. Jegelevičienė.

Last year, Lithuanians brought measles virus from the United Kingdom, Tenerife, Kazakhstan and Belarus. Of the 30 infected, 9 were children.

« Only one of the sick children was vaccinated, and this is not a full vaccination. All other children with illness were not vaccinated, » said E. Jegelevičienė.

Children are vaccinated for measles free of charge, with the first dose for a year and a half and the second dose at six or seven.

« Two doses of the vaccine protect 97 % from measles, » Dearth explained.

Those who have been vaccinated until 1988 should be concerned. These people received only one dose of the vaccine, so they are advised to consult a GP for amplifying dose.