Report by Shuchi Giridhar
There has been record of a measles outbreak in India. This outbreak has been going on for some time now.
What is measles?
Measles is an infectious disease mainly affecting children. It causes high fever and red rashes on the skin. It mainly spreads through respiratory drops that are formed in the air when someone coughs or sneezes. Other ways of it spreading are contact with dirty surfaces or skin to skin contact. It is recorded as very rare. It is also preventable and curable by a professional. It spreads quite easily. It can stay in the air for upto two hours.
Where has the outbreak spread?
•Mumbai has been the worst hit city. It has recorded 323 cases of measles.
•Kerala is also experiencing the outbreak.
•Most of the cases in Kerala come from Malappuram district which alone has recorded 184 cases.
•Apart from these two, Bihar, Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Haryana also seem to be experiencing an outbreak.
What is being done to stop the outbreak?
People in Maharashtra are striving to vaccinate their kids. Teams have been rushed to Kerala and Mumbai by the Union Health Ministry.
The administration has mandated that an extra dose must be administered to those falling the age group of 9 months to 5 years in vulnerable areas.
Even children around 6 months old are being given vaccine in areas where the disease has affected children who are 9 months old (or more).
After getting the notice, Maharashtra acted very quickly. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has prepared a list of over 138,000 children to get an additional dose of the vaccine.
Kerala has not decided whether it is fine with giving an additional shot to children.
What can you do to protect yourself and everyone around you?
1. If you haven’t already got vaccinated for this disease, do it immediately. Getting vaccinated is the most important precaution to take if you want to prevent yourself from getting measles.
2. Avoid crowded places, especially if the area you are in experiencing an outbreak. Don’t go to places that are very dirty.
3. Keep an eye out for symptoms. If you are anyone around you is experiencing symptoms, get medical help immediately.
4. Be careful around people who are sick. Make sure not to get in direct contact with them since measles spread through direct contact
5. Wash your hands frequently and keep them clean. Especially wash your hands after going outside. Make sure to wash your hands with soap and water.
What are some symptoms of measles?
Symptoms normally are seen after around 7 to 14 days of exposure. Some symptoms are-
•Skin rashes on your face or upper neck
•high fever and runny nose
•red eyes or conjunctivitis
•white spots in the cheek
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