This Tuesday, the Ministry of Health (SSa) of Mexico issued a new epidemiological notice to public sector medical units due to the detection of more imported cases of measles.
The notice issued by the National Committee for Epidemiological Surveillance (Conave) was given for first, second and third level medical units in the country.
The Mexican Government agency specified in a statement that measles is a highly contagious viral disease caused by the virus that belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family of the Morbillivirus genus.
“The notice gives an account of the current situation of this disease in the world and calls on public and private medical units to verify compliance with epidemiological surveillance actions and laboratory diagnosis of probable cases of measles or rubella.”he added.
In Mexico, in 2024 and until week 13, a total of 859 probable cases of measles or rubella have been reported, that is, suspected and subject to analysis. Of these four were confirmed with measles, one being imported and three probably related to the importation of the virus.
According to the SSa of the Mexican Government, The alert seeks to prevent the reintroduction of the virus and guarantee timely diagnosisas well as obtaining quality information that guides actions to reinforce health promotion and specific prevention.
According to the information shared by the Mexican Ministry of Health, this virus has an incubation period in the body of one to three weeks and is found in secretions from the nose and pharynx.
Meanwhile, he explained that transmissibility occurs four days before and four days after the appearance of ‘hives’ on the body, with coughing and sneezing being the most common form of contagion.
To avoid infection and prevent hospitalizations, the SSa recommended isolation at home.
Regarding these small welts, the department explained that The clinical picture to confirm measles is based on the presence of fever, maculopapular rash, that is, reddish, raised spots on the surface of the skin that are distributed from head to extremities.
The above, accompanied by eye irritation, also called conjunctivitis, rhinitis-type colds, cough, and small spots with a white center could be observed on the oral mucosa, known as Koplik spots.
The maculopapular rash or hives, SSa added, lasts four to seven days and disappears through peeling.
Meanwhile, the Mexican Government assured that it has “a solid epidemiological surveillance system for febrile exanthematous illness for the detection and notification of probable cases of measles.”
It also recommended that mothers, fathers and guardians or caregivers take girls, boys, as well as adolescents to health units to be vaccinated in case they lack any doses to complete the vaccination schedules.
The measles vaccination schedule in Mexico consists of two doses: the first at 12 months of age and the second at 18 months.
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2024-04-22 23:27:53
