Dimapur, October 5 (MExN): With improved surveillance in the district of Dimapur, 112 fever rash cases were reported of which 53 were confirmed Measles and three confirmed Rubella.
As per the roadmap to MR Elimination guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, special immunization response has been initiated by the Office of the CMO, Dimapur, in the areas where cases were concentrated falling under the health units in Signal Angami, Darogapathar, Purana Bazaar, Duncan, Burma Camp and Kuda, a statement from the CMO office of Dimapur stated.
Nagaland along with the rest of the county is committed to achieving the MR Elimination goal by 2023. Measles is a highly contagious, serious airborne disease caused by a virus that can lead to severe complications and death. It can affect anyone but is most common in children.
Measles infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose and a rash all over the body. Measles is one of the world’s most contagious diseases, spread by contact with infected nasal or throat secretions (coughing or sneezing) or breathing the air that was breathed by someone with measles. The virus remains active and contagious in the air or on infected surfaces for up to two hours.
Rubella is an acute, contagious viral infection. While rubella virus infection usually causes a mild fever and rash in children and adults, infection during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, can result in miscarriage, fetal death, stillbirth, or infants with congenital malformations, known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). The rubella virus is transmitted by airborne droplets when infected people sneeze or cough. Being vaccinated is the best way to prevent getting sick with measles or rubella or spreading it to other people. The vaccine is safe and helps the body fight off the virus.
In this special immunization drive (October 7 to 13), every child in the age group of 9 Months to 5 y will be administered with One Dose of MR vaccine irrespective of previous immunization status. The department has requested the respective colony Chairperson, GBs, Churches, Civil Society Organization, allied departments and the community to support for the success of the drive.
