Measles has resurfaced in the Czech Republic after being eradicated, according to a Mladá fronta Dnes report (computer translated).
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The airborne virus is not only affecting children, but also middle aged people, prompting health officials to express concern about a possible epidemic among adults.
“This is because people born between 1968 and 1976 received only one dose of the vaccine [as babies], while only later it turned out that one is not enough, but that two doses are needed,” Radomíra Limberková, from the National Measles Reference Laboratory, told the paper.
“People in the group above have a lower level of antibodies preventing measles’ outbreak”, she added.
Measles or rubeola, is an acute highly communicable viral disease that is characterized by Koplik spots in the cheek or tongue very early in the disease. A couple of days later a red blotchy rash appears first on the face, and then spreads, lasting 4-7 days. Other symptoms include fever, cough and red watery eyes. The patient may be contagious from four days prior to the rash appearance to four days after rash appearance.
The disease is more severe in infants and adults. Complications from measles which is reported in up to 20% of people infected include; seizures, pneumonia, deafness and encephalitis. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page
