New Delhi: More than 10,000 kids have been affected with measles this year, and 40 kids have died. Maharashtra has got the maximum number (3075) of measles cases, followed by Jharkhand and Gujarat.
In response to the increasing measles fatalities, the Maharashtra government advised injecting an extra dose of measles and rubella-containing vaccine (MRCV) into children between 9 months and five years. The govt. Also advised to administer the viral vaccine to six months and above babies.
Joint secretary of the Union health ministry, P Ashok Babu, wrote to the principal secretary of health that the double dose of MRCV is advised to be administered to the kids as measles outbreak response immunisation. The MRCV additional vaccination drive will not interfere with the vaccination schedule of the children receiving it.
Measles is a viral infectious disease affecting the respiratory tract of children. A fever of 105 degrees Fahrenheit and rashes are the characteristic symptoms of the disease.