The Covid-19 pandemic could cause another disease to explode

Health

17:56 21.11.2020(updated at 18:00 of 21.11.2020) Short URL

Although measles vaccination has been stopped in some countries as a result of restrictive measures linked to the pandemic, WHO estimates that 94 million children have not been protected against this childhood disease. Scientists are considering the possibility of an outbreak of the condition next year, The Lancet reports.

According to The Lancet, the Covid-19 pandemic can cause a measles outbreak, say scientists at Melbourne’s Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.

Researchers are particularly concerned about the pause in vaccinating children against measles due to restrictive measures linked to the pandemic. The study authors paid attention to the fact that, according to WHO estimates, at the end of October due to delayed vaccination campaigns in 26 countries, 94 million children had not received scheduled vaccinations.

Figures for the first half of 2020 show that the number of measles cases in most countries is declining, but this reduction is “sadder than encouraging and foreshadows future outbreaks.”

Reasons given by scientists

Additionally, the researchers indicate that the reduction in measles incidence rate is typical for the epidemic cycle of infection this year. This reflects the reduction in the transmission of respiratory infections through quarantine measures and the restriction of international and domestic travel.

The pandemic has hit the economies of countries causing hunger, malnutrition with reduced immunity and therefore the likelihood of measles returning, scientists say. In their view, we can expect an increase in the number of children not vaccinated against measles in the near future, including those living in poor communities where there are concerns with the public health system. Furthermore, the problem of malnutrition will continue to increase.

All of this suggests that measles could turn into an epidemic next year.

To avoid this, countries need to be helped to continue the vaccination campaign and prepare for the planned explosions, the researchers conclude.