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SYDNEY, Nov.17 (Xinhua) – Major measles outbreaks are likely to occur in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic as early as 2021 due to missed vaccinations, an Australian medical institution report warned Tuesday.
According to the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) report, many children in the developing world lost their measles vaccinations in 2020 due to disruptions caused by the pandemic.
Estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) suggest that 94 million children in 26 countries and regions had not received scheduled doses of measles vaccine by the end of October 2020.
Compounding the problem are the economic impacts of COVID-19 leading to higher rates of malnutrition, a condition that increases the severity of measles infections.
‘All of these factors create the environment for serious measles outbreaks in 2021, accompanied by the increased mortality rates and severe consequences of measles that were common decades ago,’ said lead author Professor Kim Mulholland.
“Children who die from measles are often malnourished, but acute measles drives many children who have survived malnutrition.”
Malnutrition, along with measles-associated immune suppression, can lead to delayed mortality, while coexisting vitamin A deficiency can also lead to measles-associated blindness.
WHO data indicates that there were 9.8 million measles cases and 207,000 deaths in 2019, the largest increase in the past 20 years.
Mulholland, who is also chair of the World Health Organization’s SAGE working group on measles and rubella vaccines, said the problem persists despite measles vaccinations being a cost-effective and effective solution.
It identified three key steps that could be taken to immediately mitigate the effects of impending outbreaks.
They need to reach non-immunized children through recovery vaccination campaigns, prepare countries for anticipated outbreaks, and maintain goals to eliminate measles and rubella all together.
“Without concerted efforts now, the next few years are likely to see an increase in measles and its serious, often fatal complications,” Mulholland said. Enditem
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