FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – A measles outbreak that began last week in a nursery school in Cyprus has raised concerns about vaccination coverage, as measles is highly contagious and poses serious health risks, particularly to unvaccinated individuals.
Health officials are urging parents to ensure timely immunization to prevent further spread and complications. Measures are being implemented to contain the outbreak and protect public health.
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection caused by the rubeola virus. It primarily affects young children but can occur at any age in unvaccinated individuals.
What is measles?
The virus spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Because it is so infectious, close contact or sharing an indoor space with an infected person can result in rapid transmission, particularly in communities with low vaccination coverage.
The symptoms of measles usually begin 7-14 days after exposure to the virus.
Initial signs include high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis). These are often followed by the appearance of small white spots inside the mouth, known as Koplik’s spots, which are a hallmark of measles infection.
A few days later, a red, blotchy rash typically starts on the face and spreads downward to cover the rest of the body.
While most people recover from measles without complications, it can sometimes lead to severe health issues such as pneumonia, ear infections, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), or even death, especially in young children, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
Measles is preventable through vaccination.
The measles vaccine, often given as part of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) combination vaccine, is highly effective in providing immunity and is considered a vital public health tool. High vaccination rates in a community help create herd immunity, protecting those who cannot be vaccinated due to medical conditions.