Eleven cases of measles have been detected in Millau, in Aveyron, since September 17. ARS Occitanie warns of the need to check one’s vaccination status. The majority of those affected were not vaccinated or had an incomplete schedule.
Eleven cases of measles have been reported to the Occitanie Regional Health Agency (ARS) in the Millau sector, in Aveyron, since September 17. Among those affected, ten children aged between eight months and ten years and one adult. “The majority of cases are not vaccinated or did not have a complete vaccination schedule”specifies the ARS in a press release.
Measles, a highly contagious viral disease, is transmitted through the air and can cause serious complications. To avoid the spread of the disease, the ARS recalls the importance of checking one’s vaccination status and applying barrier gestures, particularly in the presence of vulnerable people, such as infants, pregnant women or immunocompromised people.
Measles in Millau, a potentially serious disease
Although often mild, measles can cause serious complications, including lung or brain infections. “Between the moment when the virus measles enters the body and the first symptoms beginit generally takes around ten days. This is the incubation period. During this phase, the virus is present in the respiratory tract, multiplies there and spreads throughout the body through the blood circulation,” according to the Amelie website.
Early symptoms include a runny nose, conjunctivitis, cough, severe fatigue and high fever. After three to four days, a rash appears, starting on the face and spreading to the rest of the body. “The sick person remains feverish and very tired” during this phase, according to Amelie.
The measles vaccine, administered as part of the combined MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine, remains the most effective means of prevention, having led to a reduction in cases since its introduction.
