Reported measles cases rose nearly 80% worldwide in the first two months of the year, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF said on Wednesday.
L ‘WHO has not stopped in recent months from sounding the alarm about the danger of utter disaster if the dangerous delay in vaccinating children due to the COVID-19 pandemic is not caught and if health restrictions are removed too quickly.
The result is dizzying: the number of cases jumped 79% in the first two months of 2022, compared to the same period last year, according toWHO and UNICEF. The two agenciesUN now fears the emergence of a serious epidemic of measles, a highly contagious viral disease that can affect million children in 2022.
So far, 17,338 cases of measles have been reported worldwide in January and February 2022, compared to 9,665 in the first two months of 2021. The numbers are likely to be higher, as the pandemic has disrupted surveillance systems.
The best protection against measles, which takes its name from the characteristic red drops all over the body, is comprehensive vaccination coverage.
There have been 21 significant outbreaks of measles in the past 12 months (through April), mostly in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean region.
The countries with the largest outbreaks of measles since last year are Somalia, Yemen, Nigeria, Afghanistan and Ethiopia.
Because measles is highly contagious, cases tend to appear when vaccination levels drop. The two UN agencies fear that the spread of measles is a harbinger of the spread of other diseases that spread more slowly.
Measles is more than just a dangerous and deadly disease. It is also one of the first signs that there are gaps in global vaccination coverage.said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
A vaccination problem
According to’WHO and UNICEF, too many children have not benefited from measles vaccines due to disruptions in health systems associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
By 2020, 23 million children worldwide will not receive primary childhood vaccines through regular health services. This is the highest number since 2009 and 3.7 million more than in 2019, according toWHO and UNICEF.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted vaccination services, health systems have been overwhelmed, and now we are seeing a resurgence of deadly diseases, including measles. For many other diseases, the impact of these delays on vaccination services will be felt for decades.warned the leader ofWHOTedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Now is the time to roll back critical immunization programs and launch catch-up campaigns so everyone has access to these life-saving vaccines.he asked.
The risk of large outbreaks increases as countries rest on preventive measures taken to combat COVID-19, such as observing physical distancing.
It is encouraging to see that people in many communities are beginning to feel adequately protected against COVID-19 to pursue more social activities. But doing so in areas where children are not getting regular vaccinations creates the perfect conditions for a disease like measles to spread.Ms. warned. Russell.
The displacement of millions of people due to conflicts and crises in Ukraine, Ethiopia, Somalia and Afghanistan, among others, also increases the risk of the spread of the disease among the declining population.
Source: Radio-Canada
