The Health Promotion and Infectious Disease Directorate has appealed that children be vaccinated against measles and rubella as global anti-vaccine trends gain momentum.

Malta has just received confirmation from the World Health Organisation Regional Verification Commission that measles and rubella were eliminated in the period between 2012 and 2016.

This means that the island is one of the countries where rubella and measles are controlled, with no cases in recent years.

However, to maintain a low prevalence of measles, Malta needs to ensure that all children are vaccinated and continue to improve our coverage rates, the directorate is insisting.

Many countries, including Malta, have seen a drop in the vaccine coverage rate as a consequence of anti-vaccine lobbyists and vaccine scares.

These are unfounded and put children at risk of disease and serious complications.

The WHO has sent out an alert about measles, which is still prevalent in some countries. Over 500 cases of measles were reported in January this year in the WHO European Region.

Measles continues to spread in European countries and has the potential to cause large outbreaks wherever immunization coverage has dropped below the necessary threshold of 95 per cent.

Outbreaks will continue in Europe until every country reaches the needed immunisation level

In Malta, two adult cases were reported in 2015, while there were no cases in 2016 or 2017.

“With steady progress towards elimination over the past two years, it is of particular concern that measles cases are increasing in Europe,” said the WHO’s Regional Director for Europe, Zsuzsanna Jakab.

“Today’s travel patterns put no person or country beyond the reach of the measles virus.

Outbreaks will continue in Europe, as elsewhere, until every country reaches the level of immunization needed to fully protect their populations.”

Measles is a highly contagious virus that can cause serious illness. As measles remains endemic in most parts of the world, it can spread to any country, including those that have eliminated the disease. Every person who is under-immunized or not immunized at all, regardless of their age, is at risk of contracting the disease.

The measles vaccine in Malta is offered free as part of the national vaccination schedule.

The Disease Directorate is strongly advising that all children be vaccinated according to the national schedule, with two doses of the vaccine.

Travelling adults are encouraged to check their vaccination records and speak to their doctor.

The first sign of the measles virus

■ The first sign of measles is usually a high fever which breaks out from 10 to 12 days after exposure to the virus and lasts four to seven days. During the initial stage, symptoms include a runny nose, coughing, red and watery eyes and small white spots on the inside of the cheeks. After several days, a rash erupts, usually on the face and upper neck. The rash spreads over three days, eventually reaching the hands and feet.

Most measles-related deaths are caused by secondary complications, which are more common in children under the age of five or adults over 20.

The most serious complications include blindness, encephalitis (an infection that causes brain swelling), severe diarrhoea and related dehydration, ear infections or severe respiratory infections such as pneumonia.