The year 2018 saw a severe measles outbreak, claiming the lives of 140,000 people worldwide, according to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The outbreak affected several countries across the globe, including those with high vaccination coverage.

The Importance of Vaccination

Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles. According to the WHO, measles can be prevented with two doses of the measles vaccine, which is safe and effective in preventing the disease.

However, vaccination coverage has decreased in some countries in recent years, which has contributed to the spread of measles.

Reasons for the Outbreak

Several factors contributed to the severity of the measles outbreak in 2018. The first reason is the lack of vaccination coverage in some areas.

In some countries, the percentage of people who received the vaccine decreased, and this created a larger pool of susceptible individuals who can spread the disease. Additionally, the lack of resources in some countries prevents them from implementing vaccination campaigns to reach high-risk populations, such as children and the elderly.

The second reason is the infectiousness of the measles virus itself. Measles virus is highly contagious and can spread easily from person to person through coughing and sneezing.

Infected individuals can spread the virus even before they show symptoms, which makes it difficult to contain the spread of the disease.

The Impact of the Outbreak

The measles outbreak in 2018 had a significant impact on the affected countries. It caused a considerable burden on healthcare systems, as hospitals and healthcare facilities were overwhelmed by the number of patients needing care.

Additionally, the outbreak caused economic losses, as people had to take time off work to care for their sick family members.

The outbreak also had a social impact, as communities became distrustful of vaccination programs and healthcare workers. This created a barrier for future vaccination campaigns and caused delays in reaching those who were still unvaccinated.

The Response to the Outbreak

The response to the measles outbreak involved several strategies. The first strategy was to strengthen routine vaccination programs in affected countries.

This meant providing additional resources, training healthcare workers, and targeting high-risk populations for vaccination campaigns.

The second strategy was to improve surveillance and monitoring of the disease. This involved implementing systems to track cases, identify outbreaks, and contain the spread of the disease.

It also involved building laboratory capacity to diagnose measles cases reliably.

The third strategy was to address the underlying causes of low vaccination coverage. This involved increasing awareness of the importance of vaccination among communities and addressing myths and misconceptions about vaccines.

The Future of Measles Outbreaks

The measles outbreak in 2018 highlights the importance of maintaining high vaccination coverage and building resilient healthcare systems. While progress has been made in reducing the burden of measles globally, the threat of outbreaks remains.

The risk of measles outbreaks can be mitigated by implementing robust vaccination programs, addressing underlying reasons for low vaccination coverage, and improving surveillance and monitoring systems.

Conclusion

The measles outbreak in 2018 claimed the lives of 140,000 people and had a significant impact on affected countries. While the outbreak has been contained, the threat of future outbreaks remains.

Addressing the underlying reasons for low vaccination coverage and building resilient healthcare systems is crucial to preventing future outbreaks and reducing the burden of morbillivirus infections.