Measles cases are exploding around the world

Quebec is spared, but the cases of measles have exploded in the world since the beginning of 2022. Millions of children, who have still not received their vaccine against the infection, are at risk of catching it.

Alice Girard-Bosse
The Press

79%

Increase in the number of measles cases worldwide in the first two months of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021

Sources: World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund

“worrying” situation

“It is highly worrying”, says the D^r Brian Ward, professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at McGill University. “It is a very aggressive virus with a completely unacceptable mortality rate of up to 5% in poor countries. The hospitalization rate in young children can reach 50% to 75%”, indicates the doctor.

The five countries with the highest number of measles cases in the last 12 months, up to April 2022

• Nigeria (12,341 cases)
• Somalia (9068 cases)
• Yemen (3629 cases)
• Afghanistan (3628 cases)
• Ethiopia (3039 cases)

Source: World Health Organization

A highly contagious disease

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases. The infection usually begins with a discharge from the nose and eyes, redness around the eyes, cough and fever, details the D^r Ward. Three to five days later, a rash in the form of a small spot is added. It starts on the face and neck, then spreads to the rest of the body.

Almost perfect efficiency

However, there is a sure way to prevent measles: vaccination. With both doses, usually given before age 2, the vaccine is more than 95% effective, says Dr.^r Ward. Before the vaccine was used, there were 300,000 to 400,000 cases a year in Canada, according to federal government data. Today, only a few cases are recorded each year. However, the situation is less rosy in some countries with lower vaccination coverage.

The COVID-19 pandemic in question

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the interruption of basic childhood immunization services in many countries. “However, we are now seeing the resurgence of deadly diseases such as measles, and the consequences of these disruptions will be felt for several decades with regard to other diseases,” said Dr.^r Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization. “The watchword is to return quickly to the distribution of vaccines in an adequate way, because we cannot let this virus be transmitted quickly”, adds Benoit Barbeau, virologist and professor in the science department. biology from the University of Quebec in Montreal.

73 million

Number of children who had their measles vaccination postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Sources: World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund

And here, in Quebec?

Since 2001, when there were no outbreaks, Quebec has recorded 0 to 4 cases of measles per year. For the most part, these are people who contracted the disease abroad. But the situation is not always so calm, since several outbreaks have hit the province over the past 50 years.

1989 : Largest epidemic since the introduction of the measles vaccination program in the 1970s. More than 10,000 people are affected, mostly young people of school age.

2007 : An outbreak affects 99 people in several regions of Quebec. Estrie and Montérégie record the highest number of cases.

2011 : A major measles outbreak affects 776 Quebecers in several regions of the province. The majority of those infected are young people between the ages of 5 and 19.

2015 : Between January and April, an outbreak of measles occurs in the Lanaudière region. A total of 159 people are infected. None were vaccinated.

Source: Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services

Are we safe from a measles outbreak?

“When there is measles activity in other countries, it can happen here anytime,” says Dr.^r Ward. Although outbreaks in Quebec rarely exceed a few thousand individuals due to the high vaccination coverage in the province, many Quebeckers who have never been vaccinated remain at risk. The doctor reminds us that it is never too late to receive the vaccine. “No matter the age, people can get vaccinated. It is even highly recommended,” he concludes.