City PHCs put on alert after measles outbreak in Nuh
Gurgaon: After the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed a measles outbreak in the Nuh district, the Gurgaon administration on Friday directed all primary health care centres to be vigilant about the situation and planned a survey to check if measles cases are emerging in the district.
Pataudi, Farukhnagar, Sohna and Bhora Kalan, which are the neighbouring districts of Nuh, are also on high alert.
“All health care centres in Gurgaon have been told to carry out surveys to assess if there are measles cases in their respective areas,” said Dr Virender Yadav, chief medical officer, Gurgaon. According to WHO, measles outbreaks are declared when the number of cases reported in an area is higher than the expected number. It is mainly transmitted through direct contact with infected persons, or indirectly via breathing in contaminated air or touching infected surfaces. The virus infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body.
The first sign of measles is usually a high fever, which begins about 10 to 12 days after exposure to the virus and lasts four to seven days. A runny nose, a cough, red and watery eyes, and small white spots inside the cheeks can develop in the initial stage. After several days, a rash erupts, usually on the face and upper neck. Over about three days, the rash spreads, eventually reaching the hands and feet. The rash lasts for five to six days and then fades. On average, the rash occurs 14 days after exposure to the virus (within a range of 7 to 18 days), experts pointed out.
“Parents need to check for symptoms and see a doctor when required. Vaccination is a must to eradicate measles. All primary centres will check the vaccination status of children up to 16 years. To prevent measles, two doses of the MR (Measles Rubella) vaccine (the first dose at 9 months of birth and the second dose at 18 months) should be taken,” said Yadav. At least three confirmed cases of measles have been found in Nuh.
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