Hotline for measles outbreak in Jena

Jena sets up hotline for concerned Elten for measles outbreak

20/09/2013

Starting next Monday, Jena will set up a telephone hotline (phone number: 03641/493131), where concerned parents can find out about the measles outbreak in the city. The health authorities answer all questions about the topic of measles, as the city communicates. A vaccine is so far the only protection against the infectious disease.

Measles broke out at the school in Jena
Since the measles outbreak at the Jenaplan school, many parents are worried. In addition to the proven measles diseases, three suspected cases were reported. „We recommend avoiding unnecessary contacts, avoiding kisses and hugs, "said Antje Weise, a public health officer in Jena, to the news agency „dpa“.

Measles should not be considered „mild childhood illness“ can be done away with, because even years after the outbreak of infection, the pathogens can cause serious health problems. Especially in older and immunocompromised patients sometimes severe disease patterns occur, for example, with pneumonia.

In rare cases, healthy young people are suffering from subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a generalized inflammation of the brain with nerve demyelinating. The most serious damage inevitably leads to the death of the patient. About every tens of thousands of patients are affected by this condition. In addition, life-threatening encephalitis may also develop as part of a measles infection. A measles vaccine is currently considered the only effective protection. (Ag)