By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) measles outbreak continues as health officials report an additional 850 measles cases including 6 deaths (CFR 0.7%) across the country during the week ending July 12.

Image/CDC

Over the past four weeks provinces that reported the majority of cases are: Sankuru (1 511 cases), Maindombe (283 cases), North Kivu (170 cases), and North Ubangi (159 cases).

The total suspected and confirmed measles cases reported since January is 67,438, including 950 deaths.

Since 2019 a total of 378,955 measles cases and 6,981 deaths (CFR 1.8%) have been reported in the country.

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Measles is a very contagious disease caused by a virus. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. In fact, the measles virus can stay in the air for up to two hours after an infected person was there. People may be infected by simply being in a room where an infected person once was. It is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 90% of the people around him or her will also become infected if they are not protected.

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Measles can be prevented with the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. The vaccine is safe and effective. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends children receive their first dose of MMR vaccine between 12-15 months of age and a second dose between 4-6 years old. More than 95% of the people who receive a single dose of MMR will develop immunity to all three viruses. A second dose boosts immunity, typically enhancing protection to 98%.

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