Strong public health systems are essential for eliminating measles

Public health experts said in a comment published by CMAJ (Journal of the Canadian Medical Association) that strong political support and strong public health systems are needed to fight measles outbreaks, which are multiplying in Canada. the whole world.

"The long-term elimination of measles requires strong regional public health systems," Drs write. Natasha Crowcroft and Shelly Bolotin, Public Health Ontario and Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario. "In a globalized society in which we are all connected, a disease as infectious as measles – the most contagious vaccine-preventable disease – is easily transmitted, and to prevent this, public health programs need to provide nearly 100 % coverage, which is difficult at the technical level ".

The World Health Organization reports a 300% increase in measles cases in the first three months of 2019 compared to 2018.

"In the war against microbes, victories are won at a very good price and the resulting peace is fragile," the authors write. "It took many years in the Americas to verify the elimination of measles in 2016. It took only two years of political turmoil in Venezuela to sufficiently disrupt the health system to erase that result."

Ensuring that everyone is vaccinated is complex and requires coordination at the local level, which is compromised by the pockets of advocates of the fight against vaccination. Strong public health systems are needed to ensure immunization for all and to monitor this use with precision.

Source: Joule Inc.