Due to the increase of cases imported into the country and presented in: Medellin, Santa Rosa de Cabal (Risaralda), Villa del Rosario (Santander) Arjona (Bolivar) and Cartagena D.T. and C., in children from Venezuela; The Secretariat of Health, as the Health Authority, has intensified prevention, care, surveillance and control actions to prevent the introduction or appearance of cases of measles in the Department. Therefore, we are informing the community:

Measles is a highly contagious disease, caused by a virus that develops in humans and that is transmitted by the inhalation of secretions expelled when a contagious person speaks, coughs or sneezes.

Symptoms usually appear in two stages: in the first stage - between the first and third day-, most people get fever, cough, runny nose (clear mucus) redness and burning in the eyes. When looking at a patient's mouth, you observe white spots called Koplik's spots, which are found inside the cheeks and can resemble grains of salt on a red background.

The second stage begins between the third and seventh day. It is characterized by reddish eruptions on the face, which subsequently extend down to the rest of the body, in a descending manner.

This is a preventable disease through vaccination. There is no other option than the triple viral vaccine (measles, rubella, and mumps) or the bivalent vaccine (measles, rubella).

According to the National Vaccination Scheme, this vaccine must be applied to all children who have completed 12 months old, and the reinforcement must be done when the child is 5 years old. If the child has already reached the age of 5 or more and has not received such a vaccine, it must be requested at the Health Service Provider or during the vaccination day to be held during this month of April.

The community is recommended to consult a physician or the nearest Health Institution when presenting symptoms compatible with this disease.

By adopting these measures we can reduce the risk of transmission.

OFFICE OF PRESS AND COMMUNICATIONS