Elche measles ‘outbreak’ prompts vaccination drive

A VACCINATION campaign against measles was carried out on Tuesday and yesterday (Wednesday) in Elche’s Los Palmerales neighbrouhood.

This is due to three new cases of the disease detected in children, who are being treated at Elche General Hospital and Vinalopo Hospital.

This brings the total number of cases detected since the end of January to 11, according to health sources.

Two of the three latest cases were found in students at the Los Palmerales school and the third in a hamlet. Six of the 11 cases registered so far this month were also in Los Palmerales.

Health officials are treating these cases seriously because measles is one of the most frequent causes of child mortality in the world.

For this reason, the Health Ministry decided to bring the vaccination period for the virus from 15-months of age to 12.

Following the recent outbreak, the Public Health Department held various meetings with spokespeople from various neighbourhoods to inform them of the situation and to roll-out the vaccination drive in a bid to halt further contagion.

Vaccinations were also given at churches in the neighbourhood. Health officials are investigating the cases. Initial belief is that the disease originated in Alicante.

Usually, the number of measles cases is low.

Health officials hope that these preventative measures will halt the spread of the disease in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, more than 95 per cent of the Baix Vinolopo population have been vaccinated against diseases, including measles.

This is the highest percentage in the Valencia Region. Anybody with measles is obligated to inform health officials.

By Nicole Hallett