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Source: http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-soleil/...8_accueil_POS2
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Published April 27, 2011 at 05:00 | Updated at 9:53
Measles is back
Pierre Pelchat
The Sun
(Quebec) region of Quebec has just experienced its first cases of measles since 1996. Notifiable disease, measles was confirmed in 19 people in the region in recent weeks. For Quebec, there are 26 people infected with measles virus.
"They are mostly infants and young people in their twenties and thirties whose vaccination had not been completed. There have been hospitalizations for tracking children and to avoid cases of dehydration, "said Tuesday at Sun, Dr. Jasmin Villeneuve, the Regional Directorate of Public Health.
Although it refuses to speak of an epidemic, the situation is sufficiently worrisome to bring public health precautions. Thus, doctors' offices and emergency hospitals were notified of the presence of measles cases in the region.
"People who have fever and redness are invited to provide this information upon arrival at the clinic or emergency room. They will be given a mask or they will be segregated. Measles is a highly contagious disease. If a child is sick, we try not to expose other children at daycare, "said the doctor.
It is estimated that the virus can stay alive in the air in a room two hours after the passage of an infected person.
The disease can seriously affect people whose immune systems already weakened by other health problems, even if they were vaccinated. For the same reason, pregnant women are also at higher risk of developing the disease.
"Once a case is confirmed, we investigated to find out who the patient was in contact and inform those whose immune system is weakened a possible onset of disease and complications that may arise" said Dr. Villeneuve.
"For children who were not vaccinated, they can make antibodies to fight disease," he said. The vaccine is administered to children from the age of 12 months. Earlier, this protection is not effective.
French origin
Everything indicates that the outbreak of measles in Quebec origin of Europe, especially France. "After investigation, we were able to trace cases from France," said the director of public health protection for Quebec, Dr. Horacio Arruda.
For three years and particularly since early 2011, the number of measles cases in France has increased considerably. More than 14,500 cases were reported since 2008 and over 3,000 in March alone. The epidemic affects mainly the south-east.
In France, only 60% of residents were vaccinated, while in Quebec, the inoculation rate is around 95%. "This shows that vaccination is the best tool possible to prevent an epidemic and the importance of vaccination in our day," argued Dr. Arruda.
In Quebec, we do not expect that the number of measles cases increased dramatically, due to the high rate of vaccination. "It should disappear by itself," argued Dr. Villeneuve.
Even if they have not been vaccinated, it is considered that people aged 50 and older are protected because they have already been in contact with the disease before the vaccination programs are introduced in the early 70 .
"Measles is like a cold. There is a fever, runny nose and conjunctivitis [eye irritation]. After three or four days, the redness will appear on the body. It lasts four to seven days. There is no treatment. That part alone. In young children, make sure they are well hydrated, "said Dr. Villeneuve.
The disease can cause major complications, including encephalitis. We are talking about one death per 1000 cases of measles. In the past, Quebec has experienced years of 10 000 to 12 000 cases of this disease before the introduction of vaccination programs.
By the numbers
>> 95% of Quebecers are vaccinated against measles
>> 60% of French people are vaccinated against measles
>> 3000 cases reported in France in March
Google translation:
Published April 27, 2011 at 05:00 | Updated at 9:53
Measles is back
Pierre Pelchat
The Sun
(Quebec) region of Quebec has just experienced its first cases of measles since 1996. Notifiable disease, measles was confirmed in 19 people in the region in recent weeks. For Quebec, there are 26 people infected with measles virus.
"They are mostly infants and young people in their twenties and thirties whose vaccination had not been completed. There have been hospitalizations for tracking children and to avoid cases of dehydration, "said Tuesday at Sun, Dr. Jasmin Villeneuve, the Regional Directorate of Public Health.
Although it refuses to speak of an epidemic, the situation is sufficiently worrisome to bring public health precautions. Thus, doctors' offices and emergency hospitals were notified of the presence of measles cases in the region.
"People who have fever and redness are invited to provide this information upon arrival at the clinic or emergency room. They will be given a mask or they will be segregated. Measles is a highly contagious disease. If a child is sick, we try not to expose other children at daycare, "said the doctor.
It is estimated that the virus can stay alive in the air in a room two hours after the passage of an infected person.
The disease can seriously affect people whose immune systems already weakened by other health problems, even if they were vaccinated. For the same reason, pregnant women are also at higher risk of developing the disease.
"Once a case is confirmed, we investigated to find out who the patient was in contact and inform those whose immune system is weakened a possible onset of disease and complications that may arise" said Dr. Villeneuve.
"For children who were not vaccinated, they can make antibodies to fight disease," he said. The vaccine is administered to children from the age of 12 months. Earlier, this protection is not effective.
French origin
Everything indicates that the outbreak of measles in Quebec origin of Europe, especially France. "After investigation, we were able to trace cases from France," said the director of public health protection for Quebec, Dr. Horacio Arruda.
For three years and particularly since early 2011, the number of measles cases in France has increased considerably. More than 14,500 cases were reported since 2008 and over 3,000 in March alone. The epidemic affects mainly the south-east.
In France, only 60% of residents were vaccinated, while in Quebec, the inoculation rate is around 95%. "This shows that vaccination is the best tool possible to prevent an epidemic and the importance of vaccination in our day," argued Dr. Arruda.
In Quebec, we do not expect that the number of measles cases increased dramatically, due to the high rate of vaccination. "It should disappear by itself," argued Dr. Villeneuve.
Even if they have not been vaccinated, it is considered that people aged 50 and older are protected because they have already been in contact with the disease before the vaccination programs are introduced in the early 70 .
"Measles is like a cold. There is a fever, runny nose and conjunctivitis [eye irritation]. After three or four days, the redness will appear on the body. It lasts four to seven days. There is no treatment. That part alone. In young children, make sure they are well hydrated, "said Dr. Villeneuve.
The disease can cause major complications, including encephalitis. We are talking about one death per 1000 cases of measles. In the past, Quebec has experienced years of 10 000 to 12 000 cases of this disease before the introduction of vaccination programs.
By the numbers
>> 95% of Quebecers are vaccinated against measles
>> 60% of French people are vaccinated against measles
>> 3000 cases reported in France in March
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