The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF are now afraid of the appearance of serious measles epidemics, which could affect “millions of children” in 2022, and alert on vaccination delay.
Le Monde with AFP
The World Health Organization (WHO) has continued in recent months to alert the risk of “absolute disaster” if the dangerous delay in the vaccination of children against measles, because From the Pandemic of Covid-19, was not caught up and if the health restrictions were lifted too quickly.
The result is dizzying: the number of cases jumped 79 % in the first two months of 2022, in comparison with the same period last year, according to WHO and UNICEF Wednesday, April 27. The two UN agencies are now afraid of the appearance of serious measles epidemics, a highly contagious viral disease, which could affect “millions of children” in 2022.
For the moment, some 17,338 cases of measles were reported in the world in January and February 2022, against 9,665 in the first two months of 2021. But the figures are probably higher, because the pandemic has disturbed surveillance systems. The best protection against measles, which takes its name from the characteristic red plates that appear throughout the body, is a very high vaccination cover.
Measles being very contagious, cases tend to appear when the vaccination levels decrease. The two United Nations agencies fear that measles epidemics will be a warning sign of epidemics of other diseases that spread more slowly. “Measles is more than a dangerous and potentially fatal disease. It is also one of the first signs that there are gaps in global vaccination coverage,” said UNICEF director general Catherine Russell.
There have been 21 major measles epidemics in the past twelve months (until April), most of them in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean region. The countries that have known the largest measles epidemics since last year are Somalia, Yemen, Nigeria, Afghanistan and Ethiopia.
“Resurgence of deadly diseases”
According to WHO and UNICEF, too high a number of children could not benefit from measles vaccines due in particular to the disturbances of health systems linked to the Pandemic of COVID-19. In 2020, 23 million children worldwide have not received basic infant vaccines through routine health services, the highest number since 2009, and 3.7 million more than in 2019 .
“The Pandemic of Covid-19 interrupted the vaccination services, the health systems have been overwhelmed, and we are now witnessing a resurgence of fatal diseases, including measles. For many other diseases, the impact of These interruptions of the vaccination services will be felt for decades, “warned the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“The time has come to put on track the essential vaccination programs and launch catch-up campaigns so that everyone can have access to these vital vaccines,” he asked. The risk of significant epidemics increases as countries soften the preventive measures taken to combat COVVI-19, such as respect for physical distancing.
“It is encouraging to note that the inhabitants of many communities are beginning to feel sufficiently protected against the COVVI-19 to use more social activities. But to do it in places where children do not receive routine vaccination Create the perfect conditions for a disease as well as the spread, “warned M me russell.
The displacement of millions of people due to conflicts and crises in Ukraine, Ethiopia, Somalia and Afghanistan, among other countries, also increases the risk of epidemics with already very weakened populations.