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At the CHU de Bordeaux, a 17-year-old girl has just died of complications from measles. A disappearance that follows that of a young man of 26 years in June in Marseille, and a mother of 32 years in February in Poitiers. As many deaths, as the health authorities claim, could have been avoided.
Measles is not a benign disease. After one to three weeks of incubation, the virus causes flu-like symptoms and rashes. In most cases, the disease disappears on its own, but it can also cause serious infectious complications: otitis, severe pneumonia, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). Since 1 er January 2018, MMR (measles – mumps – rubella) vaccine is mandatory in infants
A very contagious virus
This vaccination has a dual purpose. As an individual, of course, it protects against disease. After a complete MMR vaccination – a first dose at 12 months, followed by a booster between 16 and 18 months – one is almost certain to be protected. (In the absence of a booster, the vaccine protects in less than 9 out of 10 cases). But the measles virus continues to circulate in the population
In fact, a population is never fully vaccinated. Some people can not be because of medical contraindications (immunodeficiency, pregnancy, allergy to the vaccine) or a refusal of parents (antivax movement). Others have inadequate care because of a chaotic personal history (migration, drop-out …) or poor organization (forgetfulness of recall).
Insufficient immunization coverage
why vaccination is not only an individual act: it also helps to protect others. This effect, called group immunity, helps stop the spread of the disease by interrupting the chain of infections. The video below illustrates the phenomenon: beyond a certain threshold of protection, the virus is no longer transmitted: it is on the brink of extinction
Source: theotheredmund on Reddit. [19659009ThisthresholdofprotectiondependsonthevirulenceofthediseaseThemeaslesvirusisverycontagiousmuchmorethanthatoftheflu:inanon-immunepopulationasickindividualcaninfectbetween12and18people!Inordertoachievesatisfactorygroupprotectiontheexpertscalculatedthatavaccinationcoverageof95%ofthepopulationwasnecessary
It is very far from it. To date, the two-year vaccination rate for MMR vaccine varies from 62 to 88% depending on the department. Since November 2017, more than 2,500 cases of measles have been identified in the territory, including Gironde (24%), Vienna (8%) and Gard (6%). In nearly 9 out of 10 cases, people contracting measles were not vaccinated.
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