In relation to last week, three new cases of measles were confirmed, two in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region and one in the North Region, according to Epidemiological Bulletin No. 8 – Measles Epidemic Activity in Portugal 2024, released on Tuesday- fair.
Of a total of 169 suspected cases reported between January 1 and April 21 this year, 140 were discarded.
The majority of cases were registered in Lisbon and Vale do Tejo, where 14 cases were confirmed, followed by the North, with seven, and the Central region and the autonomous region of Madeira, both with one case.
According to the health authority, four patients required hospitalization, and no deaths were recorded.
The first confirmed case was a 20-month-old baby who was not resident in Portugal and was not vaccinated.
The DGS warns of the importance of vaccination against measles in accordance with the National Vaccination Program, which recommends two doses for children and adults born after 1970.
According to the Annual Summary Report on Vaccination 2024 from the Directorate-General for Health, released on Tuesday, measles vaccination met and exceeded the national and international target of 95%, “strengthening protection with the aim of avoiding or limiting outbreaks “.
He adds that “the recommended vaccination at two months of age is complied with, but there is a range of 17% to 19% of children who remain susceptible to measles and meningococcal C disease at 13 months of age”.
For the DGS, the “95% target is critical for measles, as it is highly transmissible and because these children attend preschool establishments, which facilitate its transmission”, arguing, therefore, that this is “an indicator to improve” , for example, by raising awareness among parents or legal guardians of minors to comply with the recommended vaccination at 12 months.
Within the scope of measles epidemiological surveillance activity, the DGS highlights the importance of immediate notification of suspected cases on the IT platform supporting the National Epidemiological Surveillance System (SINAVE), in accordance with the current legal framework, ensuring timely intervention in reducing of transmission chains.
