First infection for 20 years Measles imported from Germany to Guatemala

Woman from Guatemala drags measles from Germany to her native country

A young woman from Guatemala got infected with measles during a stay in Germany and brought the disease to her home country. It is the first measles case in the Central American country for 20 years. The Ministry of Health has now taken far-reaching protective measures.

Number of measles cases has risen

Just recently, health experts reported an increasing number of measles cases in Germany. Although the infectious disease has been on the decline since the introduction of the measles vaccine some 40 years ago, measles eradication has been repeatedly curbed. Blame is that in this country is not sufficiently vaccinated. Elimination of the disease is when at least 95 percent of the population is vaccinated, the virus can no longer spread and occurs less than one case per million inhabitants and year. In Guatemala, this goal was achieved 20 years ago, the disease was considered eradicated there. But now there is again a measles case in the Central American country - imported from Germany.

Guatemala was free of measles for two decades. But now a young woman in the Central American country is suffering from the highly contagious infectious disease. She became infected in Germany. (Image: pit24 / fotolia.com)

Disease from Germany to Guatemala introduced

Guatemala has been considered measles free since 1998. After two decades, a measles case has been reported in the Central American country for the first time.

According to media reports, a 17-year-old woman from Guatemala had been infected with the highly infectious virus on a trip to Germany.

As the Ministry of Health of Guatemala writes in a communication, the young woman was still free of symptoms when she returned to her homeland a few days ago.

Therefore, there is no risk that the patient has infected other people during the flight or at the airport.

Protection of the population

It has since been confirmed that the 17-year-old is suffering from measles. The Ministry of Health has taken far-reaching protective measures after the diagnosis.

It is said that all students and teachers who attend the same school in Guatemala City as the sick are vaccinated.

The patient's family, neighbors and medical staff and patients with whom she may have contact should also receive the vaccine.

In addition, other parents were also asked to have their offspring vaccinated.

No harmless teething

Even in Germany, health experts are not tired of calling to be vaccinated.

Measles are still dismissed by some people as a harmless childhood disease. But the infectious disease also affects adults.

In the past year almost one thousand people fell ill in this country.

Measles are highly contagious. The disease is transmitted by droplet infection. It begins with flu-like symptoms such as high fever, cough and runny nose. Later follows the characteristic rash.

In general, measles weaken the immune system. As a result, it can come to, among other things, bronchitis, otitis media or pneumonia. In rare cases, the infection can be fatal.

The disease is particularly dangerous in infants and toddlers.

Discussions about compulsory vaccination

In connection with the infectious disease is repeatedly discussed a possible measles vaccination in Germany. In Italy, such was introduced by law last year.

A majority of Germans would welcome the obligation to vaccinate, but many experts are against it. They rely more on education than vaccination.

In Germany, the measles vaccine is recommended for children from the eleventh month of life, for infants in a daycare from the ninth month.

Adults should also check their measles vaccine protection if necessary.

"A single measles vaccine is generally recommended for all adults born after 1970 who have not been vaccinated against measles or whose immunization status is unclear," writes the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) website.

"Those born before 1970 are likely to have already gone through measles," say the experts. (Ad)