The number of measles cases reported in France during the first five months of 2017 is 295, according to Sante publique France (computer translated). This is six-times the number of cases reported during the same period in 2016 (47).

Image/Pexels
Image/Pexels

Measles has circulated widely in the general population in metropolitan France this year with 40 percent of the departments in France reporting at least one case.

Outbreaks have been reported in Lorraine, New Aquitaine and Occitania.

Now the health minister wants to make 11 vaccines compulsory, according to a The Local report.  New health minister Agnes Buzyn said she wants to extend the number of mandatory vaccinations to 11 to include immunizations against conditions such as measles, hepatitis B, meningitis C, rubella, mumps and whooping cough.

Currently, only diphtheria, tetanus and polio are mandatory in France.

This follows Italy’s new decree to make 12 vaccines compulsory for schoolchildren.

According to health officials, from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2016, in 9 years, more than 24,000 measles cases were reported in France (nearly 15,000 cases in the year 2011 alone). Nearly 1,500 cases had severe pneumonia, 34 neurological complications (31 encephalitis, 1 myelitis, 2 Guillain-Barré) and 10 died.

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