Iran reports 70 measles cases in Hormozgan Province
The Deputy Minister of Health of Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences announced the identification of 70 cases of measles in Hormozgan Province.
Dr. Yahya Mirzadeh stated: "Since the beginning of last year until today, during the process of monitoring rash and febrile diseases, 283 suspected measles cases have been identified in the province, of which 70 have been confirmed.”
He added: "These cases have been reported in the cities of Bandar Abbas, Jask, Qeshm, Minab, Bashagard, Bandar Khamir, and Rodan.
Most of the infected people are from the marginalized population and people who have no history of vaccination. Only two children with a history of receiving the measles vaccine have contracted the disease.
Dr. Mirzadeh continued: "In order to quickly identify and diagnose contact cases, necessary follow-ups have been carried out and more than 14,000 households have been visited throughout the province”.
The Deputy Minister of Health of Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences noted: "In this process, necessary training has been provided to households and 1,654 doses of supplementary or delayed vaccines have been injected into people in contact with infected people according to national guidelines”.
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Regarding the status of vaccination coverage in Hormozgan Province, he said: "Vaccination coverage in the province is still above 95 percent, but our goal is to have no delays in vaccinating any of the children and people at risk, and to fully and timely carry out vaccination in all regions of the province, especially in the peripheral areas”.
Referring to the contagious nature of measles, the Deputy Minister of Health of Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences stated: "Each patient with measles can infect 8 to 10 other people. Therefore, vaccination is the most important protective barrier against this disease, and vaccination coverage must remain at a high level to prevent the spread and circulation of the virus”.
Dr. Mirzadeh added: "Since the beginning of 2021, no positive case of measles has been reported in the province, which indicates the effectiveness of preventive measures and timely vaccination in controlling the disease situation in the province”.
He further emphasized: "The statistics and status of suspected and confirmed measles patients are under close daily monitoring by the Ministry of Health, and the Deputy Health Officer of the Ministry of Health and the Communicable Diseases Management of the Ministry of Health are fully aware of the situation and extent of the virus and disease in the province."
He added: "At the discretion and order of the Ministry of Health, booster vaccination coverage will be carried out in various groups in a targeted and limited manner. However, up to this point, given the stable conditions of the disease and high vaccination coverage, there has been no need for a booster dose."
The deputy head of health at Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences also stated: "Prescribing booster doses to everyone has no scientific basis whatsoever and should only be done in special circumstances according to national guidelines and under the supervision and approval of the Ministry of Health. This action is prohibited for people with a history of seizures, pregnant mothers, people undergoing chemotherapy, recipients of blood products, and people with a history of allergies."
He concluded by saying: It is also important to note that routine measles antibody testing has no scientific basis and is not recommended in any way. Dear people of the province, please refrain from paying attention to rumors and unscientific information and, if you experience symptoms of measles, immediately consult a specialist or comprehensive urban health service centers so that timely treatment and prevention measures can be taken to prevent others from becoming infected.