MEASLES

Why in News?                                                                                                        

Following years of declines in measles vaccination coverage, measles cases in 2022 have increased by 18%, and deaths have increased by 43% globally (compared to 2021). This takes the estimated number of measles cases to 9 million and deaths to 136 000 – mostly among children – according to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

What is Measles?

• Highly contagious disease caused by a
• Spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes.
• Measles can affect anyone but is most common in children.
• Measles infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body.
• Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose and a rash all over the body.
• Being vaccinated is the best way to prevent getting sick with measles or spreading it to other people.
• Most deaths from measles are from complications related to the disease.
• If a woman catches measles during pregnancy, this can be dangerous for the mother and can result in her baby being born prematurely with a low birth weight.
• There is no specific treatment for measles.
• Community-wide vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles. All children should be vaccinated against measles. The vaccine is safe, effective and inexpensive
• India’s Strategy: To eradicate measles by 2023, India has plans to vaccinate 95% of the population with two doses of the measles vaccine under the Intensified Mission Indradhanush.