00:00The alert by the Pan-American Health Organization was published on October 28, citing that more
00:06than 14,000 suspected cases of measles have been registered, with 376 confirmed in eight
00:13countries of the Americas, mainly in the United States, with 267 cases, Canada, 82, and Argentina,
00:2211.
00:23According to PAHO, the majority of these cases is either imported or related to importation,
00:29and 57% of them are unvaccinated.
00:33PAHO further notes that the Americas was certified as free from rubella in 2015 and of endemic
00:39measles in 2016.
00:41Measles, a highly contagious disease caused by a virus, primarily affects children, with
00:47PAHO stating that among the highly impacted groups are children ages 1 to 9 years old
00:54and young adults aged 20 to 29 years.
00:58The virus can result in complications including severe diarrhea, air infections, blindness,
01:03pneumonia, and encephalitis, which is inflammation in the brain.
01:07Some conditions can result in death.
01:10According to PAHO, in 2023, the regional coverage for the first dose of the MMR vaccine was
01:1687% and 76% for the second dose, below the ideal threshold of 95% recommended to prevent
01:24outbreaks.
01:25In response to the situation, PAHO is urging its member states to
01:291.
01:30Implement active search strategies to detect cases, as well as to carry out complementary
01:35vaccination activities, 2.
01:37To close existing immunity gaps and strengthen communication with communities to promote
01:42vaccine acceptance.
01:44Travelers are also advised to get vaccinated before visiting areas where measles transmission
01:49has been documented.
01:52PAHO is also recommending that countries strengthen their systems of surveillance and
01:57its response mechanisms to imported cases.
02:01The organization adds,
02:023.
02:03It is crucial to address risk factors that could favor the spread of the virus, such
02:08as low vaccination coverage, gaps in surveillance, the active circulation of the virus in other
02:14regions of the world, the increased movement of people in the region, and dengue outbreaks
02:21where some of the measles cases could be masked.
02:25PAHO outlines vaccination as the most effective way of preventing the spread of the virus
02:31and it says,
02:324.
02:33Despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine, measles is one of the leading causes
02:38of death in young children.
02:39Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has stated that up to October 15, 2024, more than
02:45502,000 suspected cases of measles were reported in 182 member states of the six WHO regions,
02:55of which more than 283,000, representing 56% of the caseload, were confirmed.
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