Over the past few months, we have had reports of vaccine shortages particularly disrupting measles vaccination. It cannot be a surprise that we now have pockets of measles outbreak in Ghana, especially in the northern parts. This is definitely not how we visualized our 2023, but that’s the situation we find ourselves in.
Many of us think of measles as a skin disease, but measles is indeed an acute viral respiratory illness that is characterized by fever, general malaise (weakness, loss of appetite, etc), cough, catarrh, and red, swollen eyes (conjunctivitis). The skin rash appears up to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Some other symptoms of measles may include diarrhoea, ear pain, and ultimately death, something no one would like to hear in 2023.
Measles is one of the most contagious of all infectious diseases. 9 out of 10 persons who are at risk of measles will be infected should they come in contact with a person with measles. Measles is spread through direct contact with infectious droplets or inhalation. These droplets are spread when the infected person coughs or sneezes, and can remain infectious in the air for up to 2 hours after the infected person leaves the area. Suffice it to say that primary prevention using vaccination is the best approach. Primary prevention refers to measures that are put in place to prevent the infection from occurring in the first place, while secondary prevention tries to limit the spread after the infection has started.
Ghana has had a fairly successful vaccination program since the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) was established many years ago. Even though we have had sporadic episodes of measles in the past, the population of vaccinated persons has helped keep the spread in check. Unfortunately over the past 5 months, due to the shortage of this vaccine, 70 new cases have been reported in the north, and the number is still increasing. The risk of rolling back the significant progress made remains high as the shortage continues to persist.
The minister of health in answering a question on the floor of parliament assured Ghanaians that vaccines would be available in Ghana within 2 to 3 weeks. I don’t know what to make of an assurance that is a range, but I guess it’s better than none. So we wait with bated breath.
In the meantime, as a parent, especially a parent of a child yet to receive measles vaccination, do not treat fever lightly, especially fever that comes along with any of the symptoms described above. Report immediately to a health facility. Early diagnosis and management will avert a negative outcome.
Just in case you didn’t know before, measles is one of the numerous childhood killer diseases.
Sources:
CDC, WHO
Citinewsroom
Dr. Kelvin Owusu is a Health and Wellness Consultant who, through a holistic approach, helps individuals and groups craft innovative health plans aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles.
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