Measles outbreak in Venezuela; 50 under surveillance

Venezuela has the highest number of measles cases; 886 cases were reported between 2017-2018; of which two died.

Pan American Health Organization has issued a warning against measles' outbreak in the Americas, with the highest in Venezuela. Venezuela and the nearby regions were declared measles free in 2016.

PAHO has issued an epidemiological alert due to the outbreak and has asked countries to speed up their efforts to vaccinate the masses.

Measles is a highly contagious disease and affects children in particular. The disease is preventable with the right vaccination.

According to PAHO, nine countries in the American subcontinent have confirmed cases of measles in report in January 2018 with Venezuela at the highest with 159 cases, Brazil(14),the United States(13), Canada (4), Mexico(4), Antigua and Barbuda (1), Colombia (1) and Guatemala (1).

Venezuela has the highest number of measles cases; 886 cases were reported between 2017-2018; of which two died.

The Epidemiological alert raised on March 16had the following declaration," The spread of the virus to other geographical areas is explained, among other factors, by the high migratory movement of the population, generated by formal and informal economic activity around mining and commercial activity."

The confirmed cases in 2018 were reported from Venezuela aged between nine months to eighteen years old; none of them were vaccinated.

As of now, fifty are under surveillance and being monitored. They will be observed for a time and will be cleared only after a follow up which ends on April 13.

Under surveillance are doctors, nurses, relatives, neighbors and even patients who had contact with the Venezuelan kid who was confirmed with the virus in Medellin.