The Macau Health Bureau (SSM) is urging all those who have no immunity against measles to get vaccinated considering that local measles cases have recently been detected in Hong Kong and Taiwan and that some countries in the Western Pacific Region are currently affected by a relatively high incidence rate of the disease.
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.
An SSM statement last night noted that according to WHO data, the world’s measles vaccination rate dropped over the past few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, because of which the number of measles infections has been rising globally since last year when the world’s normal movement of people began to be gradually restored.
The statement said that a number of countries in the WHO Western Pacific Region are all currently being affected by relatively high incidence rates of measles, such as Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam.
In addition, the statement said, the Hong Kong SAR and China’s Taiwan region have each reported local measles cases over recent weeks.
The statement noted that currently no measles cases have been recorded in Macau, where the disease is not endemic, adding that the WHO declared years ago that Macau had eliminated measles.
However, the statement said, Macau as an international tourism city has a large number of visitors every day, because of which those working in the tourism industry or its related service sectors are now facing a higher risk of measles infections – if they have no immunity to the disease.
People are generally immune to measles after getting vaccinated against it or having previously been infected with the disease.
Consequently, the statement said, the Health Bureau is now urging all those who have no immunity against measles to get inoculated against the disease.
The statement noted that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles, adding that those who have no immunity to measles should receive MMR jabs as soon as possible, a vaccine against measles, mumps, and rubella (aka German measles).
The statement also said that those who need to receive MMR jabs can consult the bureau’s public health centres or health stations in the districts where their home address is located.
According to the statement, those aged below 18 need to receive at least two MMR jabs, after the age of one, to become completely immune to measles. In general, the statement noted, the Health Bureau recommends that children receive an MMR jab when they are 12 months and 18 months old respectively.
The statement also said that parents should refrain from travelling abroad with their children who have not developed full immunity to measles as well as from taking them to places with crowds of visitors in the city.
Moreover, according to the statement, those aged 18 or over who were born after 1970 should receive an MMR jab if they have never been infected with measles and have not been vaccinated against the disease after the age of one, particularly those who take care of babies such as domestic helpers and those working at day nurseries.
However, the statement said, health workers under the same circumstances are recommended to receive two MMR jabs because they belong to a high-risk group.
The statement noted that measles, a highly communicable disease, is primarily transmitted through droplets, but it can also be transmitted through direct contact with the patient’s throat or nasal secretions.
The statement also noted that measles’ incubation period ranges from 7 to 18 days, but can be up to 21 days.
Measles can be fatal.
This poster downloaded from the website of Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) yesterday explains measles’ symptoms and prevention.
