As was announced yesterday, ten cases of measles in children in Styria were confirmed. The first case became known on Friday – measles are notifiable. In Graz there are already 17 cases of infection on Monday. At the Graz children’s clinic (current status 11.30 a.m.) six children are hospitalized.
According to the Styrian State Medical Directorate, around ten a.m. in Styria, a total of just over 20 cases were reported, including suspected cases. The children’s clinic in Leoben has also been affected with two cases.
The head of paediatrics at the LKH Hochsteiermark, Reinhold Kerbl, confirms: “We diagnosed one case on Friday and another on the weekend. The two should be in contact with those in Graz.” High security measures must now be taken because measles is highly contagious. “We check at the entrance whether someone is infectious.”
In case of suspicion
If you suspect that you or your child has measles or is showing symptoms, the hospitals ask you “don’t just go to the doctor’s office, but call a doctor first! He can then say when you can come”. Because if sick children sit in waiting rooms, the disease would spread quickly. “The viruses remain in the air and are very infectious – this can be dangerous, especially for very small children under nine months who cannot yet be vaccinated,” it says.
Where to get vaccinated
There is a special vaccination campaign in Graz today. “It’s never too late to get the measles vaccine. It is free for all Styrians – children and adults – also with all doctors in the Styrian vaccination network,” says Michael Adomeit, vaccination officer at the Styrian Medical Association. All Styrian vaccination doctors can be found here.
Klaus Vander, who, as medical director of the Institute for Hospital Hygiene and Microbiology, carries out the PCR tests for measles at the LKH Graz, says: “The outbreak probably originated in a pediatric practice in Graz and then spilled over to the Graz children’s clinic.” Or probably also on Leoben.
Further tests are evaluated
Today, pending tests from exposed individuals are expected later today. “It is likely to spread further,” says the virologist. But he also says: “There can be no general wave in society.” Because if you have already had an illness, you have lifelong protection. The same applies to vaccinated people, around 80 to 85 percent of the population. “Even if nobody can hear the word anymore, we would only have herd immunity with a vaccination rate of 95 percent.”
Vaccination or past illness protect
According to Vander, after Corona there would be a vaccination disillusionment, although a measles vaccination would “really not make you ill”. A vaccination is planned from the 12th month of life, i.e. from one year. In exceptional cases already from the 9th month. Anyone who vaccinates before becoming pregnant gives the unborn child a vaccine protection for the first few months of life. “It now affects mostly unvaccinated and young children as well as unvaccinated pregnant women,” said Vander.
Anyone who has not been vaccinated can be vaccinated up to 72 hours after contact. This also offers a good chance of preventing an outbreak.
In both children and adults, the disease can have serious consequences, such as pneumonia or encephalitis.
Measles keeps breaking out
There are always measles outbreaks. During Corona, the disease was pushed into the background like so many others by the contact restrictions. Before that, there were a few smaller outbreaks annually.