SINGAPORE: The number of measles cases in Singapore has hit the highest level since an outbreak in 1997, figures from the Ministry of Health on Thursday (Oct 24) showed.
According to the latest weekly infectious diseases bulletin published on Thursday, there were 149 measles cases in Singapore as of Oct 19.
AdvertisementAdvertisementThat is more than four times the number of cases for the whole of 2018, when there were 34.
The number of measles cases in Singapore hit 1,413 in 1997, before the Government introduced the two-dose MMR vaccination schedule in 1998. The number of cases fell to just 114 that year.
In July this year, MOH urged Singaporeans to remain vigilant, as measles cases around the world have increased substantially.
“As a travel hub, Singapore is likely to see increased cases from importation,” it said.
AdvertisementAdvertisementThe ministry has also alerted general practitioners to be on the look-out for measles cases, particularly in patients who have recently travelled overseas or who have not been vaccinated.
The disease, which is highly contagious among unvaccinated individuals, can been prevented through taking two doses of the MMR (Mumps, Measles, Rubella) vaccine.
A vial of the measles, mumps, and rubella virus (MMR) vaccine. (File photo: Reuters/Lindsey Wasson)
[h=3]READ: Rise in measles cases in Singapore: What you need to know about the infectious disease[/h]MEASLES CASES IN SINGAPORE
According to the latest Communicable Diseases Surveillance report released by MOH in 2018, the number of reported measles cases has “rapidly declined” since the introduction of compulsory measles vaccination in August 1985.
In 1992 and 1997, there was a spike in the number of reported cases across all age groups. The “catch-up” immunisation initiative was implemented between July 1997 and November 1997, and the two-dose MMR vaccination started in January 1998.
The number of measles cases ranged between 13 and 96 between 2001 and 2010, before an increase in 2011 to 148 cases. Since then the number of cases has fluctuated, with 38 cases in 2012 and 46 cases in 2013, jumping to 142 cases in 2014.
There were 42 measles cases in 2015 and 136 cases in 2016. That dipped to 70 cases for the whole of 2017 and dropped further to 34 cases in 2018.
???????GLOBAL OUTBREAK
There have been outbreaks around the world as the virus exploits gaps in vaccination coverage, the World Health Organization (WHO) said this month.
[h=3]READ: 'Alarming upsurge' in measles has devastating impact, WHO warns[/h]
FILE PHOTO: A measles poster is seen at Venice Family Clinic in Los Angeles, California February 5, 2015. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
The disease, which is one of the world’s most contagious according to the WHO, rose by 300 per cent globally in the first three months of 2019, compared to the same period in 2018. There have been consecutive increases over the last two years.
There is no specific antiviral treatment for measles, but it can be prevented with two doses of vaccine. The vast majority of cases of infection are in unvaccinated or under-vaccinated people.
The disease affects a person’s respiratory system and is spread through direct contact with the saliva or mucus of an infected person.
It can be contracted at any age if a person had not taken an MMR vaccination.
The early symptoms include coughing, a runny nose, red eyes, tearing and a fever. In days, bluish-white spots may appear on the inside of cheeks while there might be a skin rash on joints or the face.
Diarrhoea, vomiting and inflammation of the eyes are also possible symptoms.
Most patients recover completely from measles, but it can also lead to ear infection and pneumonia for older patients.
In rare cases, measles may cause encephalitis - an acute inflammation of the brain - and increase the risk of seizures, epilepsy, mental disability, coma or death.
Children are at high risk of developing complications.
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According to the latest weekly infectious diseases bulletin published on Thursday, there were 149 measles cases in Singapore as of Oct 19.
AdvertisementAdvertisementThat is more than four times the number of cases for the whole of 2018, when there were 34.
The number of measles cases in Singapore hit 1,413 in 1997, before the Government introduced the two-dose MMR vaccination schedule in 1998. The number of cases fell to just 114 that year.
In July this year, MOH urged Singaporeans to remain vigilant, as measles cases around the world have increased substantially.
“As a travel hub, Singapore is likely to see increased cases from importation,” it said.
AdvertisementAdvertisementThe ministry has also alerted general practitioners to be on the look-out for measles cases, particularly in patients who have recently travelled overseas or who have not been vaccinated.
The disease, which is highly contagious among unvaccinated individuals, can been prevented through taking two doses of the MMR (Mumps, Measles, Rubella) vaccine.
[h=3]READ: Rise in measles cases in Singapore: What you need to know about the infectious disease[/h]MEASLES CASES IN SINGAPORE
According to the latest Communicable Diseases Surveillance report released by MOH in 2018, the number of reported measles cases has “rapidly declined” since the introduction of compulsory measles vaccination in August 1985.
In 1992 and 1997, there was a spike in the number of reported cases across all age groups. The “catch-up” immunisation initiative was implemented between July 1997 and November 1997, and the two-dose MMR vaccination started in January 1998.
The number of measles cases ranged between 13 and 96 between 2001 and 2010, before an increase in 2011 to 148 cases. Since then the number of cases has fluctuated, with 38 cases in 2012 and 46 cases in 2013, jumping to 142 cases in 2014.
There were 42 measles cases in 2015 and 136 cases in 2016. That dipped to 70 cases for the whole of 2017 and dropped further to 34 cases in 2018.
???????GLOBAL OUTBREAK
There have been outbreaks around the world as the virus exploits gaps in vaccination coverage, the World Health Organization (WHO) said this month.
[h=3]READ: 'Alarming upsurge' in measles has devastating impact, WHO warns[/h]
The disease, which is one of the world’s most contagious according to the WHO, rose by 300 per cent globally in the first three months of 2019, compared to the same period in 2018. There have been consecutive increases over the last two years.
There is no specific antiviral treatment for measles, but it can be prevented with two doses of vaccine. The vast majority of cases of infection are in unvaccinated or under-vaccinated people.
The disease affects a person’s respiratory system and is spread through direct contact with the saliva or mucus of an infected person.
It can be contracted at any age if a person had not taken an MMR vaccination.
The early symptoms include coughing, a runny nose, red eyes, tearing and a fever. In days, bluish-white spots may appear on the inside of cheeks while there might be a skin rash on joints or the face.
Diarrhoea, vomiting and inflammation of the eyes are also possible symptoms.
Most patients recover completely from measles, but it can also lead to ear infection and pneumonia for older patients.
In rare cases, measles may cause encephalitis - an acute inflammation of the brain - and increase the risk of seizures, epilepsy, mental disability, coma or death.
Children are at high risk of developing complications.
Let's block ads! (Why?)
More...