State of São Paulo confirms 23 cases of measles; 16 were not vaccinated

Of the total number of confirmed cases in the state, two are imported and the rest are related to these two cases. The records are distributed: two in São Bernardo, one in Guarulhos and 20 cases in the capital.

The state secretariat calls on residents of the capital of São Paulo, Guarulhos and São Bernardo do Campo – aged from 6 months to 59 years – to take the vaccine against the disease, regardless of their vaccination history, as long as they do not present contraindications. The population of the indicated municipalities must seek a Basic Health Unit (UBS). Indiscriminate vaccination was adopted in these places due to the risk of spreading the disease, according to guidelines from the Epidemiological Surveillance Center of the State of São Paulo Prof. Alexandre Vranjac.

In other municipalities in the state, the guidance is to intensify vaccination actions, checking the vaccination status of the population, carrying out active searches and updating delayed doses according to age and the recommendations of the National Vaccination Calendar.

Elimination

The vice-president of the Brazilian Society of Immunizations Renato Kfouri explains that measles is an extremely contagious disease, especially due to the fact that viral particles resulting from coughing, sneezing and talking remain in suspension for a long time in the environment:

“Even after the infected person leaves the environment, it is possible to infect other people, that is, there is no need for close contact for this transmission to occur.”

“In addition to this, transmission occurs even before the individual shows symptoms. Before they know they have measles, they are already a potential transmitter”, he added.

Kfouri, who also chairs the Technical Chamber for the Elimination of Measles, at the Ministry of Health, warns that one case of infection can translate into 16 to 18 cases of the disease among people who have not taken the vaccine.

The specialist reinforces that immunization represented a huge advance in controlling the disease.

"Controlling measles requires vigorous action on two pillars: high vaccination coverage across the entire population, not just children, above 95% is ideal. Brazil has not yet reached this goal; and surveillance of suspected cases."

In addition to fever and redness of the body, the patient may develop serious complications, such as encephalitis, pneumonia and immunological amnesia.

“After an individual acquires measles, their immune system often remains depressed, facilitating other infections,” explained Kfouri about immunological amnesia.