A Disease We Thought Was Under Control
Measles has long been hailed as one of the biggest successes in the fight against diseases. Due to widespread vaccination programs, the virus that infected millions of children worldwide just a few decades ago now appears to be on the brink of being wiped out.
In the early 2000s, health officials were confident that measles would one day become a footnote in the history books, a relic of a bygone era similar to smallpox. Yet today, measles is back in a big way. Outbreaks are occurring in countries that were previously able to control the virus.
This is not just a relapse in the battle against one particular disease. It is a sign—a warning—that the world’s defenses against infectious diseases are breaking down. For those who track the world’s battles against pandemics, the comeback of measles poses a disturbing question: if people are struggling to fight back against a familiar virus that has a vaccine to defeat it, how ready are people for the next unknown threat?
Why Measles Matters
Measles is one of the most contagious viruses known to science. The contagiousness of the measles virus is so great that a single infected person can infect as many as 18 others within a susceptible population. The measles virus can live in the air for hours after the infected person leaves a room. The highly contagious nature of the measles virus makes it imperative that the population maintain a high level of herd immunity, which is typically around 95 percent vaccinated against the disease.
The measles vaccine is a highly effective vaccine that has protected millions of people from the disease. However, as the vaccination rate drops slightly below the threshold needed for herd immunity, outbreaks can develop rapidly. This is exactly what has been happening over the last several years. In a number of countries, the vaccination rate against measles has decreased due to a variety of reasons, including vaccine hesitancy, lack of information, disruption of health care systems, and political instability.
The Role of Vaccine Hesitancy
One of the most recognizable catalysts for measles outbreaks is vaccine hesitancy. In most societies, myths about vaccines have proliferated quickly on social media platforms. This has led to a breakdown in trust for public health authorities. False myths about the safety of vaccines, despite overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary, have influenced some parents’ decisions not to vaccinate their children.
The effects of vaccine hesitancy are immediate and quantifiable. Groups of people without immunity provide fertile ground for the spread of measles. Once measles infects a population, outbreaks can quickly get out of hand. Health authorities then have to rush to immunize the population in emergency vaccination drives.
Vaccine hesitancy is often perceived as a problem that affects only wealthy countries. In reality, it is a worldwide concern. Lack of trust in governments, historical grievances, and cultural issues are just a few issues that may fuel anti-vaccine sentiments. When these issues combine with myths about vaccines, they have the potential to reverse decades of progress in controlling infectious diseases.
Pandemic Disruptions and Fragile Systems
Another significant reason for the recent rise in measles cases is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global health infrastructure. During the pandemic, many vaccination programs were delayed or completely halted as lockdowns, fear of infection, and a lack of resources forced many people to stay away from health clinics.
As a result, millions of children in many countries around the world are yet to receive their scheduled vaccinations.
As aforementioned, even a small dip in immunization levels can have a significant impact on a population, especially in a highly infectious disease like measles, where a single weakness in immunity can result in a rapid spread of infection.
It is interesting to note that when a major pandemic hits a country, many other immunization programs, especially those concerning children, are among the first ones to be affected, and yet they are crucial for a country’s health infrastructure in the long run.
Courtesy Of Community Eye Health ( Flickr CC0)What Measles Teaches Us About Future Pandemics
In addition, several lessons can be learned from the reappearance of measles in the world. To begin with, it teaches that prevention systems must always be maintained. Vaccination campaigns, surveillance systems, and health education are not one-time affairs; they must be constantly maintained.
It also teaches that trust is a fundamental element in pandemic preparedness. It does not matter how effective a medical intervention is if people are not willing to use it.
Lastly, it teaches people that infectious diseases can easily come back if people are no longer vigilant. The same factors that cause measles to spread, such as global travel, urbanization, and interconnected societies, are the same factors that will cause emerging infectious diseases to spread rapidly throughout our world.
A Call for Renewed Commitment
The rise of measles should not be seen as a failure of public health systems. Rather, it is a wake-up call for the world. The world has already seen the devastation that a pandemic can cause. However, if the systems meant to prevent the outbreak of diseases are not strengthened, the next pandemic might not be so easy to control.
Measles is a disease that can be prevented. The tools needed to prevent the disease are already available. However, the fact that the disease is back tells people that the progress made in public health is not always a guarantee.
People can always wake up to the fact that the diseases people thought they had defeated are back with a vengeance.
By William Hernandez
Journalist for Vlixx Magazine, reporting on news from around the world, ensuring timely, accurate, and detailed information to keep the public informed and educated.
Sources:
The Conversation: We study pandemics, and the resurgence of measles is a grim sign of what’s coming
Ncronline: Amid measles uptick, infectious diseases specialist says church recommends vaccination
Featured Image Courtesy of Synctopia Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Community Eye Health Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
