Measles epidemic mainly affects South

Measles, a disease of children? Not only. Since 2008, a terrible epidemic in Europe, an epidemic that is important not to overlook, especially in the south of France, the region most affected. The alert is twofold. It is both the Academy of Medicine and Institute of Health Surveillance (InVS).
The Academy of Medicine, said that "more than 20 000 cases were reported since 2008" in France, where 2011 was a year marked by a real outbreak. Of these 20,000 cases, "14,000 were reported between January and June 2011." For its part, the Institute of Public Health said that over the past seven months, "fifteen of the cases had a neurological complication, 639 severe pneumonia and six died."

According to the Academy of Medicine "areas most affected by the epidemic wave in the south of France." The INVS even talk of pushing "especially spectacular in June" in PACA. The reason? Among other things, the "lack of immunization coverage." The immunization program recommends vaccination of infants as young as 9 months for the community and 12 months for others. But babies are not the only ones affected. "40% of adult cases in 2011 concern, 30% were hospitalized," the commission of "infectious diseases" of the Academy of Medicine. And the epidemic continues to grow in the adult.
The cases of 20 years or more were 17% in 2008, 23% in 2009 to up to 34% in 2010. According to Professor Didier Raoult, a specialist in infectious diseases "in the region, one third of cases involving personal attention, the most exposed." And if vaccination is recommended for younger children, is the same as young adults, even "in immunosuppressed people," particularly exposed.
But how do you know if someone is likely to be affected by the disease or not particularly contagieuseet whether to vaccinate? Serology and just see whether or not antibodies. "It is urgent, warns the Academy of Medicine, strengthen the immunization of children and strictly enforce measures to catch up vaccination of children, adolescents and young adults up to age 31 years."
According to the Academy of Medicine "complications affect 26% of adults aged 20-29 years and 41% of adults over 30 years." These complications result mainly of pneumonia can be severe anoxia. But measles can also cause neurological complications. Therefore, the 8 patients in 2010 and 15 in 2011 had acute encephalitis. "We regret the date six deaths." Currently, we are bottoming out, and take advantage to carry out the vaccination.