136 measles Deaths in just seven weeks

The measles challenge in the Philippines, more and more deaths. Since the beginning of the year 136 people have died of the highly contagious Virus, said the Ministry of health of the Southeast Asian country. About 40 percent of those Affected were children between one and four years. Since the last publication a week ago, has doubled the number of disease cases with 8443 Affected approximately.

The authorities appealed to parents to protect their children – all over the country Teams to allow for free vaccination. “Vaccination is the best strategy to combat measles,” said health Minister Francisco Duque.

That so few children are vaccinated, Duque a possible drug scandal that have shaken the confidence of the Filipinos. In the case of a vaccination programme between 2016 and 2017, more than 800,000 children had been with the medium-Dengvaxia of the French pharmaceutical group Sanofi vaccinated. The government had set the program, after doubts about the safety of the goods arrive By means of.

A Sanofi study had previously shown that Dengvaxia can reduce the risk for Dengue infections- however, especially in the case of people who were ill prior to vaccination on Dengue. These people had no Dengue infection, reinforced the Central Point is that even possibly infection. The Philippine Department of health had brought to the Mediterranean and then with three deaths.

As a result many parents had their children in General, not to vaccinate against diseases such as measles. Here the vaccines are considered safe and effective and have been operational for decades.

Global Trend: the number of cases is doubling

After the number of infections was for many years gone back, spread measles at the moment around the world rapidly. The provisional number of reported diseases have doubled in 2018 compared to the previous year, 229.000 cases, such as the world health organization (WHO) reported.

The actual number is likely to exceed the Two-million mark, said Katherine O’brien, Director of the WHO-Impfabteilung. “We assume that, worldwide, less than ten percent of all cases are reported.” Also, the number of reported cases is likely to rise. The final Figures are according to the WHO, only after April.

In the WHO Region Europe, the number of reported cases in 2018 increased in comparison to the previous year, even three times. By far the most difficult of the Ukraine with more than 53,000 cases had been affected. In Germany, however, the number was even lower: After a good 900 measles cases in 2017, have been reported in the past year, about 500 cases.

Measles are extremely contagious. The viruses are transmitted when Talking, coughing or Sneezing, on tiny droplets in the air. The disease initially causes flu-like symptoms and later a characteristic rash.

A dreaded result of an inflammation of the brain, the measles encephalitis which can be fatal or with permanent damage. As a late consequence of inflammation of the nerve cells of the brain and of the spinal cord may form also after years of a so-called subacute sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE),. It leads to the failure of brain functions and finally to death.