The Federal Center for Health Awareness in Germany said that measles is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads through droplets that reach the air when speaking, coughing or sneezing.
The German Center explained that the symptoms of measles are fever, cough, rash, and conjunctivitis, noting that there is no cure for measles, but that the symptoms associated with it are treated, for example, with fever-reducing medications and cough-treating medications.
For its part, the Permanent Vaccination Committee in Germany recommends giving young children two vaccinations against measles, the first at the age of 11 months, and the second at the age of 15 months.
Serious complications in adults
It is assumed that vaccination against measles provides lifelong protection. In the event that it is not certain about receiving the vaccination as a child, adults must receive the vaccination to avoid serious complications that may result from measles infection, which include otitis media, lung infections, and encephalitis.
Infection with measles during pregnancy may cause miscarriage, premature birth, or stillbirth. Therefore, women wishing to have children must check their measles vaccination status and receive the vaccination if necessary at least a month before pregnancy occurs, because it is not permissible to receive the vaccination during pregnancy, due to the use of a live vaccine.
It is noteworthy that with the outbreak of epidemics from time to time, experts stress the importance of raising awareness about measles, especially in light of the possibility of preventing the disease and its complications through vaccination. Strengthening vaccination campaigns and encouraging individuals to review their vaccination records are among the most important steps to limit the spread of this disease, which still poses a threat to public health.
The emergence of measles cases in recent years is due to several factors, including a decline in vaccination rates in some communities, the spread of misinformation about the safety of vaccines, and an increase in international travel that contributes to the rapid spread of the virus.