Mostly measles and adolescents

Majority of current measles cases are adolescents or adults

03/11/2015

There are still people who dismiss measles as a childhood disease. But more than half of the cases involve adolescents and adults. This is shown by current figures from the Berlin Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

Well over half of those over 10 years old
Recent figures from the Berlin Robert Koch Institute (RKI) confirm that measles is not a pure childhood disease. According to the AFP news agency, the RKI Epidemiological Bulletin states that well over half of measles cases affect adolescents and adults. According to that, of the 444 measles sufferers last year, 63 percent were over ten years old. In 59 cases the patients were between 15 and 19 years old and in 17 cases the patients were over 45 years old. According to RKI also results for 2015 „similar picture“.

Measles cases in Berlin
A "measles wave" rampant in Berlin had made headlines in recent weeks. In the capital, more than 700 people have suffered since the October outbreak. One-and-a-half-year-old infant, who was reportedly not vaccinated, died as a result of an infection. Due to the wave of illnesses in Berlin, the professional association of pediatricians (BVKJ) had recently warned that parents should leave their babies at home for measles.

Only three states without measles cases
In addition to the Berlin measles wave, RKI has already reported 30 more outbreaks this year in eleven other federal states. By definition, an outbreak means that several cases are related. According to this, only measles cases were known from mid-February only from Bremen, Rhineland-Palatinate and the Saarland. Experts point out in the debate on the repeated measles outbreaks in Germany for a long time that measles is not pure „childhood disease“ These.

Adults should control their vaccination status
Adults born after 1970 and not vaccinated against measles only once in childhood are recommended to be vaccinated by the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO). The statutory health insurance in these cases, the costs in each case. But even those born before 1970 should control their vaccination status. Some of the funds then take over the costs as well. The Berlin measles wave has also reignited the discussion about compulsory vaccination. According to surveys, the majority of Germans speak out. But there are also vaccine opponents, including the possible side effects of immunization such as redness, swelling, fever or mild itching rash.

Contagious infectious disease with life-threatening consequences
Measles are among the most contagious infectious diseases in humans. A disease can lead to complications such as otitis media or pneumonia, but can sometimes have life-threatening consequences such as meningitis. In particular, in infants and toddlers in the first year of life and in adults over 20 years, the risk of complications, according to experts. According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, 400 children worldwide die from measles every day. In order to eliminate the disease, a stable vaccination rate of 95 percent of the population would be required. According to RKI, the Federal Republic of Germany is still a long way from this goal. (Ad)