Dr. Andrei Pozdnyakov spoke about herd immunity against measles and the outlook for an outbreak.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease: temperature up to 40.5 degrees, inflammation of the respiratory tract and mucous membranes, intoxication of the body. In some countries, measles accounts for more than 1% of infant mortality.
The measles vaccine is given in the first year of life, it provides high immunity for many years. However, in recent years, if not decades, many Russians have refused to have their children vaccinated for fear that the vaccine will do more harm than the disease itself.
In recent weeks, several cases of measles have been identified in Russia in different regions.
“Based on the concept of an epidemic, the evolution of the intensity of the epidemic process is characterized by the incidence of any disease, significantly exceeding this level in other similar periods in a given territory. Let me explain : in 2021 there was zero measles in Russia, in 2022 – zero, since everyone was at home due to covid, and in 2023 there were, conditionally, 100 measles. , based on the definition of an epidemic. But, of course, it is only a local epidemic, and it will not become a new wave, like the flu or the covid”, says Andrey Pozdnyakov, candidate in medical sciences, head of the clinical diagnostic laboratory.
As written RIA News , we can talk about herd immunity to measles formed in Russia. It is around 78%. However, this infection is highly contagious, so those without immunity will still need to get sick.
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