Although for nearly 20 years no case of measles has been reported in Puerto Rico, the Department of Health and its entire structure are prepared so that, where appropriate, they do not can spread and become an epidemic, as is already happening in some parts of the country. the United States.
The steps defined by the agency consist of asking the health provider to immediately inform you of the case to open an investigation.
Ministry of Health Order 358 identifies measles as a notifiable disease in the agency.
"There is a research protocol at the Office of EpidemiologySays the doctor Iris Cardona, Counselor for Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunization, Ministry of Health.
And as health officials urged people to get measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) shots to prevent contagion, a resolution was tabled this week in the House of Representatives. review emergency plans and management protocol for possible measles cases.
"Globalization has accelerated the frequency of trade in goods, travel and activities of all kinds and is also presented as a formidable" spring "epidemic and pandemic", reads in the statement of reasons for Resolution 1388 of the House presented by the President of the Chamber, Carlos "Johnny" Méndez, as well as the Chairman of the Health Commission, Juan Oscar Morales.
This measure seeks to determine whether there is any coordination between Health and States in the detection and early intervention of these cases. It also seeks to clarify if there are any citizenship education programs pertaining to this condition.
It is badumed that the House Health Committee will report on this issue within 180 days.
For the moment yesterday Damarisse Martinezspokesman Aerostar Airport Holdings, which operates the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, said that no alert had been issued at this location regarding the control of possible cases of measles.
"Nothing has been done (about measles) because who controls is the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) and what they ask in general, it is an area of information and education (on a particular health situation), but until 'Now this has not happened, no one (from the CDC) has called the office (from Aerostar), "said Martinez.
The CDC indicates on its website that, as of April 26, 704 cases of measles have been identified in the United States.
The federal government has identified cases in 22 states, but epidemics, defined as the presence of three or more cases, have been concentrated in several places of strong presence and trafficking of Puerto Ricans. These are: New York (Rockland County and New York), Michigan, New Jersey, California (Butte Counties, Los Angeles and Sacramento), Georgia and Maryland.
The doctor Carmen Deseda, state epidemiologist, announced yesterday that it corresponds to the CDC Quarantine Division to manage the cases that can be identified at the airport.
"In the United States, they have posted ads (in airports) and if they see a child with a rash (rash) and a serious illness, with conjunctivitis and mucus, they will not let them ride (in the plane), "he said. Wish
Although apparently there is no case of measles in Puerto Rico, Deseda noted that Salud remains in communication with the CDC..
"The last case (of measles) here (in Puerto Rico) dates back to 2002," said Deseda.
According to the official, because of the high rate of vaccination of infants in Puerto Rico, it is "unlikely" that an outbreak of this disease will occur on the island.
For its part, Cardona reported that the CDC maintains a "travel warning" for measles in countries such as Israel, Ukraine, Japan, Brazil and the Philippines.
"It's not that you can not go (to these places)," he said. The CDC recommends that international travelers take certain precautions.
Among the measures taken, he mentioned, for example, that babies aged six months to a year should receive the first dose of MMR vaccine, although it is recommended to administer it once a year and at four years old.
The pediatric infectious disease specialist said locally that Salud shared the CDC's specific recommendations on the subject with the 234 immunization program providers. He added that these doctors also have the vaccine available and that 316 additional private pediatricians also offer vaccination services.
Cardona commented that in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a measles outbreak in the United States affected 55,000 people and killed more than 100 people. In Puerto Rico, he said, about 1,800 cases and about 12 deaths were reported in children.
He added that the cases reported this year in the United States were mainly children aged five years on average. As it appeared, he said, measles cases identified in the United States originated from unvaccinated persons who traveled.
