MEASLES (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – S&T - Dieases)
Context: According to WHO-UNICEF, India reported the highest number of unvaccinated children for measles in 2023, with 1.6 million cases. This underscores a critical public health challenge in the country.
Measles
- About: A highly contagious, vaccine-preventable infectious disease caused by measles virus.
- Spreads:
oAn airborne disease which spreads easily from one person to the next through the coughs and sneezes of infected people.
oMeasles infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body.
oIt may also be spread through direct contact with mouth or nasal secretions.
- Affect: Measles can affect anyone but is most common in children.
- Symptoms:
oUsually develop 10–12 days after exposure to an infected person and last 7–10 days.
oA high fever, cough, runny nose and a rash all over the body.
oComplications can include: blindness, encephalitis (an infection causing brain swelling and potentially brain damage), Severe diarrhoea and related dehydration, ear infections, severe breathing problems including pneumonia
- Measles virus: Belongs to the paramyxovirus family and it is normally passed through direct contact and through the air.
- Vaccine: Measles vaccine. And Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
- Recent Findings from WHO-UNICEF
- In 2023, India was among the top 10 countries where 55% of children were not vaccinated against measles, despite 90-94% vaccination coverage.
- The number of 'measles zero dose' children in India increased in 2023 compared to 2022.
- India has the third highest number of unvaccinated children against measles, following Nigeria and Congo.
