The Macau Health Bureau (SSM) is again urging all those who have no immunity against measles to get vaccinated as soon as possible considering the latest developments in the spread of the disease in various countries in the world.
An SSM statement on Wednesday night noted that since early this year, measles cases have been on the rise in various countries worldwide.
The statement noted that according to its official data, the United States has so far recorded over 600 measles cases this year, an increase of over 100 percent from the 285 recorded in the whole of last year.
The statement noted that two children had died after being infected with measles in the US so far this year, with the second victim having not been vaccinated against the disease.
The statement underlined that most of the measles patients in the US had not been vaccinated against the disease, or whose vaccination records were unknown, while about 70 percent of the measles patients there were children and teenagers.
The statement also said that between January and February this year, about 1,500 measles cases were recorded in the Western Pacific Region, an increase from about 900 recorded during the same period of last year.
The Western Pacific Region is one of the six regions of the World Health Organisation (WHO), comprising 37 countries and regions. China, Hong Kong SAR (China), and Macao SAR (China) are among the WHO Western Pacific Region’s 37 members.
The statement said that Cambodia is currently being hit by a measles outbreak, while measles infections are also being reported in the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia.
Over recent weeks, the statement said, measles cases have been recorded in a number of European countries such as Romania, France, Spain, Italy, and Germany.
Image courtesy of US CDC
