Measles is currently affecting several French regions and the rapid increase in the number of cases since the beginning of the year may give rise to fears of another major epidemic throughout the country, French health officials report this week (computer translated).
Since our last report one week ago, the number of measles cases in France has increased by more than 150 cases, bringing the total since early Nov. 2017 to 1,077 cases.
This situation is the consequence of inadequate vaccination coverage for infants (79% with two doses of vaccine instead of the 95% needed). ), children and young adults. 87% of measles cases occurred in unimmunized or poorly vaccinated patients.
64 departments are affected by measles with 47% of cases are reported in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
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Public Health France reminds the public for the need for a very high vaccination coverage in the population (at least 95% with two doses of vaccine in children and young adults). Such collective protection would eliminate the disease and its complications and thus also protect the most fragile people who can not be vaccinated themselves (infants under one year of age, pregnant women, immunocompromised people). It is therefore imperative that all persons born after 1980 have received two doses of vaccine.
As from 1 st January 2018 , vaccination against measles is mandatory for infants, who should receive a dose of the combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) at 12 months of age and a second dose between 16 and 18 month.
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