In Benin, a vaccination campaign against measles and rubella started this Monday, December 9 and plans to close its doors on Sunday, December 15, 2024. A routine activity which, however, comes at the right time to protect children from six (6) to fifty-nine (59) months of measles. Indeed, measles is an infectious and viral disease whose serious complications can be fatal for little ones.
What you need to know
The virus that causes measles attacks the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body. It is spread from one infected person to another through breathing, coughing and sneezing. When treatment is not rapid and efficient, measles leads to serious complications (encephalitis, blindness, joint infections, respiratory problems) leading to the death of the victim.
Measles is a rash that manifests itself with high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes and the appearance of small redness or skin bumps on the face. A few days are enough for the rash to spread throughout the body. Its contagiousness is very exponential. An infected person can infect up to 9 out of 10 other unvaccinated or unimmunized people.
Children are the most vulnerable to the disease, although anyone can suffer from it. Before the introduction of measles vaccination in 1963, major epidemics were recorded every two or three years which could cause the death of around 2.6 million people each year, including several children under 5 years old.
Renewed measles epidemics?
Thanks to vaccination campaign activities carried out by countries and technical partners, notably the World Health Organization, many children have been saved and epidemics have become rare. The advent of COVID-19 has unfortunately led to a decline in vaccination surveillance around the world. All things which increase the probability of epidemics occurring in all countries.
In Benin, a few pockets of measles were recorded this year here and there. However, it is impossible to have statistics since generally Beninese families have this traditional but annoying habit of not going to the hospital for good care of the sick. The disease is referred to as ‘the thing of the earth’ and families prefer to rely on traditional potion sellers along the streets.
However, this habit exposes a greater number of children because the virus spreads through the air and generates epidemics very quickly.
Vaccination, the only weapon against measles
Vaccination is the most effective means of preventing the disease. All children should therefore be vaccinated against measles. It is effective, safe and inexpensive.
In Benin, the measles vaccine is part of routine vaccinations. A total of two doses of vaccines are administered to children before their 15th month of birthday. Periodic vaccination campaigns like the one underway throughout the national territory help protect a larger number of children and are completely free. It is recommended that families trust the health workers deployed in the field by the Ministry of Health so that children aged six months to 59 months receive the measles vaccine, coupled with that of rubella and the administration vitamin A.
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