Vaccination is key to fighting measles
Print Edition
THE government has issued a measles alert.
The number of cases of the highly contagious virus has been on the rise since late last month and Shanghai Disease Control and Prevention Center officials say parents must have their children vaccinated as soon as possible. Adults who have never been infected should also be vaccinated.
Measles is an airborne virus that spreads easily through coughs and sneezes, making vaccination the most effective preventative measure.
Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and red rashes. It can cause complications affecting the heart, lungs and brain, and is potentially fatal.
In China, measles vaccination is compulsory for children. They receive three shots: one at eight months, another at 18 months and the final one at age 4.
Vaccinations can be obtained at neighborhood health centers, said the centre.
The number of measles cases in the city in March is usually double that of February, which the center attributes to increased communicability in large concentrations of people during the Spring Festival.
There were only 77 cases of measles in February last year, but the figure climbed to 160 in March.
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