Warning Highly contagious measles diseases are spreading

Increased reported measles cases: Cologne warns of highly infectious viruses

Health experts recently pointed to the increasing number of measles cases in Germany. In Cologne, too, more and more people are currently suffering from the highly contagious infectious disease - especially adults, but also children. The health department of the city calls for the vaccination to be checked.

Significantly more measles cases than in the previous year

Measles are still dismissed by some people as a harmless childhood disease. But the disease also affects adults. In Cologne, the diseases are currently piling up. Since the beginning of the year 2018, 16 confirmed reports have arrived at the health department of the cathedral city, which is twice as many measles reports as in the same period of the previous year.

In Cologne, measles diseases are currently on the rise. The health department calls for the vaccination to be checked. (Image: Trueffelpix / fotolia.com)

Serious illness

"Measles are a serious disease caused by viruses. This is not a harmless childhood disease, "it says in a message from the Cologne health authority.

The disease can lead to significant complications and long-term consequences. Measles usually start with high fever, cough and runny nose.

Within a few days, the characteristic rash forms on the face and behind the ears and spreads over the entire body.

If the symptoms do not diminish after eight days, there is a growing danger of serious complications such as lung and otitis media or infections of the larynx and trachea.

"As the worst consequences of a measles disease in rare cases, meningitis and encephalitis may occur, which may lead to death," warns the health department.

Transmission by droplet infection

"Unprotected people can be very easily infected if an infected person is nearby," it says in the message.

"Measles are contagious just five days before the onset of rash and four days after skin patches have become visible."

The pathogens are transmitted via droplets, for example when speaking, coughing and sneezing.

Health experts advise vaccination

A double vaccination provides the best protection against the viral disease. Therefore, according to the Office, it is important that adults now have their own vaccine and that of their children checked by a doctor and completed as needed.

Measles vaccinations are used as combination vaccines, the so-called measles-mumps-rubella vaccinations - often today in combination with a vaccine against chickenpox. Basically, two vaccinations are required to be fully protected.

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

And: "A one-time 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) on his website.

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