🔵Dr. Loreto Twele of Puerto Montt Hospital offers a range of recommendations.
August 12, Chilean Ministry of Health confirms an imported case of measlesThe viral disease has been eradicated in the country since 1993 thanks to continuous vaccination campaigns and therefore does not pose a cause for concern.However, for Dr. Loreto Twele, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Puerto Montt Hospital, said the news called for heightened measures against the infection.
between them, The most important thing is to stick to the measles vaccination schedulerepresenting the chili go through MMR vaccineincluding immunity to rubella and mumps in addition to measles, is administered to boys and girls twice: at 12 and 36 months, at National Immunization Program It is proven to be 95% effective Dr.Twiler.
“Chile was one of the first countries to achieve high measles vaccination rates, which is why measles was eradicated. The measles vaccine is a good vaccine, given at one year old and three years old, to prevent viral infection, mainly high fever, pink rash , a flu-like picture of nasal congestion and headaches, but complications such as severe pneumonia may occur”, recalled the pediatrician.
but that Dr. Twele emphasized that in ChileDespite the disease being brought under control, a group of people born between 1971 and 1981 received only one dose of the measles vaccine, and in fact, the cases reported this month Arica Here is a woman corresponding to this age group, she went for a trip armeniaa country where measles outbreaks are common.
“These people are more likely to get sick. So in Chile every five years there is an intensification campaign and the entire population is given the said dose, because we don’t know who in this group might not have developed antibodies. participating in the measles vaccination booster campaign”, The professional said, adding that the advice also applies to anyone traveling abroad.
“Anyone in this cohort who was born between the ages of 71 and 81 and was planning to travel outside of Chile was told that they had to get a booster vaccine: no medical prescription was required, just by showing proof of vaccination at any vaccination station. Will be traveling outside of Chile. We have eradicated the infection, but the rest of the world has not, with high rates of measles infection in the US, Europe and many underdeveloped countries”, precise. So the main call is to get vaccinated, either twice in childhood, in the first and third years of life; or in infancy. If you are traveling abroad, especially to countries with active cases of measles, especially if you were born between 1971 and 1981.
“For Chileans, because of the vaccine, the possibility of infection spreading to other populations is low, but in any case we must be concerned about those who have been exposed to a measles case and have a sore throat. Head, rash, fever, nasal congestion Health services should be consulted”, Dr. Twele concluded.
Source: dreyes@ssdr.gob.cl