Germany has suffered a measles outbreak for months. As explained by the Ministry of Health of the country, there are already 570 people who have been infected with the disease and, unfortunately, they have already declared the first death.
Is about an 18 month old baby He passed away last Wednesday. Yesterday this event was announced and it was decided to close a primary school, in a preventive way, in the face of the high number of cases of infection.
Measles virus arrived in Berlin through asylum seekers from Serbia and Bosnia Herzegovina, where they have suffered an epidemic since February last year. Being a highly contagious virus, an outbreak began in October, which they have not yet been able to control.
The health authorities have not commented anything about the vaccination of the child (it is not known whether it was or not), but they have asked the population to check your vaccinations to confirm that they are wearing and that, if not, go to the health centers to be administered.
In reference to the anti-vaccine parents, the Minister of Health, Hermann Gröhe, stated that "He who refuses to vaccinate his son not only endangers this child, but others".
For now, they do not plan to make the vaccine mandatory, but they will emphasize informing parents and working so that unvaccinated children can receive it. In case this fails to contain the outbreak they could take other measures, as explained.
How dangerous is measles?
Yes. Generally, if there are no complications, it is a virus that produces various symptoms such as high fever, cough and a skin rash that, when it disappears, leaves immunity for life. The problem is that it can get complicated, and then it results in otitis, pneumonia or encephalitis, which are more serious paintings. If it gets even more complicated, it can take the person who suffers it to the death, as is the case with this child or as is the case of the daughter of Roald Dahl, the well-known writer, who wrote a letter long ago recommending childhood vaccines.
But the vaccine is not safe, right?
At a time when the anti-vaccines are in the arena, especially after the outbreak that suffers the US, vaccines are also in doubt, precisely because of the speech of these parents, who continue to claim that vaccines are not effective and that in addition, they are dangerous. They talk about possible side effects and complain about them while ensuring that it would be better not to vaccinate.
That vaccines have side effects is not denied by anyone. Sometimes they are undesirable and dangerous, but they are very isolated cases and, in general, The vaccine is safe for the vast majority of children.
In contrast we have the measles virus (which is worse, the virus or the vaccine?), Which carries the following risks:
- Otitis occurs in 1 in 10 children with measles and can cause permanent hearing loss.
- Diarrhea occurs in less than 1 in 10 people with measles.
- Up to 1 in 20 children with measles gets pneumonia, which is the most common cause of death in young children.
- About 1 in 1000 children who get measles will have encephalitis, which can cause seizures and leave the child with deafness or mental retardation.
- Decade 1000 children with measles, one or two will die.
Do not, the vaccine is not as lethal as measles, so the most responsible in this regard is to vaccinate our children to protect them and, in rebound, all children who by age cannot be vaccinated (under 12 months) and all sick people who, for the reason Whatever, they can't get vaccinated.
