As of: February 28, 2024, 5:26 a.m
By: Karolin Schaefer
Comments
Press
Split
There was a measles outbreak in Tyrol.
That's why the authorities are making an urgent appeal to the population.
The numbers are also increasing in Germany.
Vienna – Skin rash, high fever and inflammation in the nasopharynx are among the typical symptoms of measles.
There have already been dozens of cases in Austria this year.
There was only recently an outbreak of the highly contagious viral disease in a climbing center in Innsbruck.
Authorities are calling for caution.
Measles outbreak in Austria: People with symptoms should isolate themselves
Four people have so far contracted measles after the outbreak on February 21st, the state of Tyrol announced in a statement.
One person unknowingly infected the others.
The federal state in western Austria therefore made an appeal to the population.
Everyone who was in the climbing center or the associated bistro between 4:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. should check their vaccination status for two measles vaccinations.
An MMR vaccination (measles, mumps and rubella) can be recognized in the vaccination certificate under the names “MMRvaxPro” or “Priorix”.
If necessary, a vaccination should be carried out and the state of health monitored.
Anyone who discovers respiratory symptoms is asked to isolate themselves.
The incubation period is seven to 21 days.
Measles must be reported in Austria: numbers almost reach the previous year's level
“People who have been vaccinated twice and people who have already had measles are considered immune,” it says.
As in Germany, measles is also a reportable disease in Austria.
Accordingly, the suspicion must be reported to the health department.
The Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) recommends vaccination for all adults who were born after 1970 and who were not or not sufficiently vaccinated against measles in childhood.
The vaccination is particularly recommended for people who work in the healthcare system, in community facilities or in the care of people with severely weakened immune systems.
For children, the first vaccination should be given between the ages of 11 and 14 months, the second no earlier than four weeks later and no later than the end of their second year of life.
There are more and more cases of measles in Austria.
© Achim Scheidemann/dpa
My news
Lotto winner and husband died: mystery about the whereabouts of the 192 million fortune
Time change 2024: Will summer time start this weekend?
read
Avalanche alarm: Italy evacuates valley – read curfew for residents
Six correct numbers and still no lottery jackpot: the pair is left empty-handed due to an error
One year after record low tide: water is back - now Lake Garda is running overflowing
66-year-old loses 635,000 euros to fraudsters
Since the beginning of the year, 157 confirmed cases of measles have been reported in Austria, according to the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES).
23 of them had to be treated in hospital, three people in an intensive care unit.
“More measles cases are to be expected,” it said.
There were 59 cases of measles in Tyrol alone.
The numbers have almost reached the previous year's level.
Last year, 186 measles cases were recorded in the reporting system.
Of these, 49 people were treated in hospital.
This means that by February there will be almost as many cases as in the whole of 2023.
More and more measles cases in Austria: These are the symptoms
Measles is not a harmless disease.
According to the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA), around one in ten affected people experience complications.
Although the number of cases in Germany has fallen sharply due to vaccinations, there are still “accumulations of cases of the disease in unprotected people”.
These are possible symptoms:
High fever
Cough
Sniffles
Inflammation in the nasopharynx
Conjunctivitis
Rash after a few days
Complications occur due to the weakened immune system.
Other pathogens are harder to ward off.
According to the BZgA, subsequent encephalitis is particularly feared.
This occurs in approximately one in 1000 cases.
For ten to 20 percent, this is fatal; for 20 to 30 percent, consequential damage such as mental disabilities or paralysis remain.
Increased measles cases in Germany too
In principle, anyone who has not yet had an infection or been fully vaccinated can become ill.
However, infants or adolescents and young adults who were not vaccinated in childhood are particularly at risk.
People with weakened immune systems who cannot be vaccinated are at higher risk of complications.
In Germany there has been a compulsory measles vaccination since 2020.
Nevertheless, in addition to the Federal Republic, other European countries are also struggling with the infectious disease.
24 cases have already been reported in North Rhine-Westphalia this year.
A spokeswoman for the state's Ministry of Health described this to the
Rheinische Post
on Monday (February 26).
For comparison: in 2023 there were only 15 cases.
“The focus of the measles incident in North Rhine-Westphalia since the beginning of the year has been on children,” said the spokeswoman.
There was a measles outbreak in Cologne, among other places.
Those affected had no or only inadequate vaccination protection.
“These are missed or postponed appointments, especially for children during pandemic times, a low risk perception regarding measles disease or reservations about the safety of vaccinations,” explained the spokeswoman.