Many German babies are ill with measles

In the first half of 2015, more than 170 babies in Germany already had measles. This is the highest number within a year since the notification requirement for the infectious disease was introduced. Paediatricians called the number "alarming".

High since the introduction of the obligation to register
In the first six months of this year, more than 170 babies in Germany already have measles. The news agency AFP reports that this is the highest number within a year since the reporting of the disease was introduced in 2001. The professional association of German pediatricians (BVKJ) had announced on Monday that according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) between January and June of this year reported illnesses of 176 children, of which 114 alone in Berlin, where since last fall Year a massive wave of measles raged.

Danger of fatal brain inflammation
The pediatricians association called the numbers as alarming. According to the information, infants have the highest risk of later suffering from incurable and fatal chronic brain inflammation, a dreaded sequelae of measles disease. The measles viruses invade the brain, where they multiply in the course of further life and destroy the brain. The president of the Professional Association of Pediatricians Wolfram Hartmann said: "This process is unstoppable. Therefore, this disease is currently considered as incurable. "

Doctors' Association calls for national vaccination strategy
The medical association has long been calling for a national vaccination strategy to protect infants who are still too young to vaccinate, but also other children who can not be vaccinated because of a congenital immunodeficiency, from contagion. It should be ensured that all children in kindergartens, kindergartens etc. are vaccinated according to the vaccination recommendations of the respective federal state. The paediatricians do not consider a certificate of advocacy for vaccination protection, which the black-and-red German government intends to anchor in the Prevention Act, to be inadequate. Not only the children, but also educators, teachers and all other caregivers should therefore provide a complete vaccination record. In the light of the measles wave, the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) and the Associations of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians recently launched an information campaign targeting adults in particular.

School ban for unvaccinated
The governing coalition has agreed on regulations for better protection against infectious diseases such as measles. In the future, therefore, unvaccinated children may be banned from attending a kindergarten or school if they have measles there. For some institutions, such prohibitions have already been pronounced in recent months. For example, in a school in Marburg, Hesse, where after several cases of measles, there was no school for uninoculated people. In addition, a medical vaccination consultation should be proven in writing before the admission of a child into a day care center. Furthermore, countries should be able to impose fines, if for a child after the allocation of a Kita-Platz no vaccination consultation can be proven. (Ad)

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