Britain is no longer a territory without measles

2019/08/21 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Medikuntza
• Osasuna

In 2017 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that Britain had eliminated measles. However, the British Department of Health has now announced that they have not been able to maintain this level.

According to 2014-2016 cases, WHO stated that Britain had eliminated measles. The absence of measles in circulation, the high coverage of vaccines and the existence of an adequate system of identification of cases of disease are, according to the WHO, the conditions for a territory to be considered without measles. Some cases of measles may appear, but in an isolated way, with a limited extension.

However, in 2018, cases of measles increased significantly. In England and Wales nearly 1000 cases were recorded, in 2017 they did not reach 300. Furthermore, for more than a year the virus strain itself was detected in the B3 Dublin.

Based on this, WHO has decided that Britain is no longer a territory without measles. The Department of Health has recalled the importance of vaccination. Matiza that to obtain the immunity of group it is necessary that 95% of the population is vaccinated and although with the first dose they get this percentage, in the second they only get 87.4%. Therefore, it requests that all those that can be inserted be included.