​Measles outbreak: Know what it is and what are its symptoms​

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection caused by the measles virus. It primarily spreads through respiratory droplets and affects the respiratory system. Measles can lead to severe complications, especially in vulnerable populations such as young children and immunocompromised individuals, and may result in pneumonia, encephalitis, or even death. In 2021, there were an estimated 128,000 measles deaths worldwide, mostly among under-vaccinated or unvaccinated children under five.

As cases of measles rose above 30,000 in Europe between January and October last year, 30 times higher than in 2022, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday, calling for "urgent" vaccination efforts. "We have seen in the region not only a 30-fold increase in measles cases, but also nearly 21,000 hospitalisations and five measles-related deaths. This is concerning," WHO said. The warning comes days after the UK announced measles to be a national incident amid a surge in cases.

The characteristic symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, and a distinctive red rash that starts on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body. Measles symptoms typically begin with a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. A few days later, small white spots may appear inside the mouth. The characteristic measles rash then develops, starting on the face and spreading to the rest of the body. The rash consists of flat, red spots that often merge. During this time, fever may spike. Early recognition of symptoms, vaccination, and prompt medical attention are crucial for managing and preventing the spread of this highly contagious viral infection.

Stressing on the need for increasing the vaccination rates, the WHO has cited that some 1.8 million infants in the WHO's Europe region were not vaccinated against measles between 2020 and 2022. "It is vital that all countries are prepared to rapidly detect and timely respond to measles outbreaks, which could endanger progress towards measles elimination," the UN health agency has said. In 2022, 83 percent of children received a first measles vaccine during their first year of life, up from 81-percent coverage in 2021, but down from 86 percent before the pandemic, WHO has said previously.

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