UPSC Express

Headline : Global measles cases up 300 per cent year-on-year, WHO

Details :

News Summary

• According to WHO, the number of cases of measles world over has seen an increase by 300% in the first 3 months of 2019 compared to same period in 2018.
• The increase in measles cases around the world is attributed to anti-vaccination stigma. According to WHO data, the global vaccination rates have decreased.

 

Data

• According to WHO, total number of measles cases reported globally is 112,163 between January and March 2019.
• Africa with low vaccination coverage has witnessed a spike in 700% in measles cases reported.
• Israel, Thailand and Tunisia have also experienced alarming outbreaks among unvaccinated groups.
• Philippines and Brazil saw the biggest increase in 2018.

 

About Anti-vaccine campaign

Introduction

• Anti-vax campaigns are campaigns against the use of MMR vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella.
• The main reason attributed to spike in measles cases is decreasing global vaccination rates.
• Global vaccination rates are decreasing due to growing vaccine hesitancy.
• Vaccine hesitancy for measles has been growing world over as result of anti-vaccination stigma.

Anti-vax campaign: Reasons

• Link with autism:The campaigns are spreading misinformation that MMR vaccine is linked with autism in children.
• Religious reason: Besides some ultra-orthodox communities are resisting MMR vaccines for religious reasons like a particular Jew community in New York.
• Social media: Besides social media has accelerated the speed at which the misinformation in spread across the world.
• Populist measure: In countries like Italy and France, politicians have supported the anti-vaccination campaign as a populist measure.

 

About Measles

Introduction

• It is a contagious air-borne infection of the respiratory tract.
• It is caused by a virus in the paramyxovirus family.
• It can spread through direct contact or coughing, sneezing etc.

High-risk group

• It affects mostly children under the age of 5 years.
• Unvaccinated groups including children, pregnant women.
• People with weak immune system.

Symptoms

• High fever
• Runny nose and cough
• Red and watery eyes,
• Small white spots inside the cheeks
• Rashes in face, upper neck, hands and feet

Effects

• Severe respiratory infections such as pneumonia.
• Serious complications include blindness, encephalitis (brain swelling), and diarrhea.