In the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, eight cases of measles have been confirmed, five of which reside in apartments of the same horizontal property in commune 14, while the other three cases are closely related. The Argentine Society of Infectious Diseases has indicated that these cases add to six others recorded in the same city the previous year, noting that none of the affected individuals had the appropriate vaccination coverage.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease and, in severe cases, can be fatal, being more dangerous for children under 5 years old and for people with weakened immune systems or malnutrition. The only way to prevent measles is through vaccination, as detailed by the Argentine Society of Infectious Diseases. Once the virus is in the air, it can remain contagious for up to 2 hours, making it an easily spreading virus.
Symptoms of measles typically appear 10 to 14 days after infection, starting with high fever, runny nose, cough, conjunctivitis, and in some cases, diarrhea. Subsequently, spots appear in the mouth followed by rashes on the skin that begin on the face and spread across the body. Among the less common possible complications are pneumonia, respiratory infections, ear infections, blindness, severe diarrhea, dehydration, and encephalitis.
In case of suspected measles, it is essential to visit a health center where symptoms will be treated, complications prevented, and measures taken to avoid the spread of the disease. Vaccination is mandatory and free in Argentina, with a schedule of two doses of triple or double viral vaccine for individuals aged 5 years and older, and one dose for children between 12 months and 4 years old.
It is important to note that Argentina had managed to eliminate the endemic circulation of the measles virus 25 years ago and has remained a disease-free country since the year 2000. However, the Pan American Health Organization warns about the risk of importing cases and developing outbreaks due to reduced vaccination coverage and the circulation of the virus in other countries.
