The Ministry of Health reported that a suspected case of measles was detected in the department of Itapúa. Paraguay has had no confirmed cases of measles since 1998 thanks to its vaccination program.
Dr. Héctor Castro, director of the PAI, informed Ñanduti radio that a suspected case of measles had been detected in the department of Itapúa. It is a girl of 1 year and 4 months who presented cough and fever. She is in good general condition and the injuries are fading. She is also undergoing constant evaluation.
According to the health authority, the patient has no history of traveling abroad, so all the contacts she had are being investigated.
“We are awaiting the results. We have already intervened and carried out a search of all the surrounding homes to prevent an outbreak from occurring,” Castro said.
In Paraguay no cases of measles have been recorded since 1998, however, there is an alert of the risk of an outbreak, given the increase in cases worldwide. The simple but essential act of receiving an additional dose can prevent this disease, as well as rubella and polio.
measles is a highly contagious viral disease, which can be serious and fatal. It is transmitted by droplets from the nose, mouth and pharynx. The best defense and the most effective to be protected is vaccination.
In this sense, all boys and girls from 1 to 6 years of age should receive the MMR vaccine and those from 6 months to 4 years of age, the oral polio vaccine (bOPV).
Our country has been certified measles-free for several years, but the possibility of losing it is high, since cases are registered in neighboring countries. If the virus is reintroduced, the scenario is ripe for rapid contagion, sustained transmission, and indigenous cases.
The Expanded Program on Immunizations (PAI) reported that, this week, vaccination coverage is 48% with bOPV oral polio. In total, to date, 306,969 boys and girls have been immunized. It should be remembered that the goal is to vaccinate 636,611 boys and girls from 6 months to 4 years of age against poliomyelitis.
Regarding the vaccination against measles, rubella and poliomyelitis (SPR/SR), of the 846,952 boys and girls between 1 and 6 years of age that is targeted, 385,298 vaccines were applied, with 45% total coverage. . However, the target population that is immunized against measles and rubella during CNV 2021-2022 remains low.
Therefore, parents and guardians are urged to immunize their children against measles, rubella and polio with an additional dose. The goal of Public Health is to vaccinate 95% of the target population against these diseases, in at least 80% of the 255 districts of the national territory. In the last 5 years, ideal coverage was not achieved, with 2020 being the year with the lowest coverage.
