Aiming to eliminate measles and control Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS), the district health officials of Bokaro are all set to launch anti -measles rubella (MR) immunisation campaign on June 26.
The vaccines would be available on all schools and Anganbari centres across the district, informed S Murmu, Civil Surgeon Bokaro.
Murmu appealed to the masses, especially parents, to have their children between the age group of 9 months to 15 years vaccinated. “Vaccination would be done in all anganbari centres, schools as well as health and community centres; the MR vaccine will be provided free- of- cost,” he added.
The Civil Surgeon also called for active support and cooperation from community-based organizations in the successful implementation of the mission. Our aim is to eradicate the virus of the fatal disease, which could be dangerous for the children, he said adding “Bokaro district would lead the state in achieving the targets under the anti measles-rubella immunisation campaign”. Explaining about the disease caused by MR Murmu said, while the effects of other diseases like polio or others were visible by the naked eye, the harmful effects of measles-rubella could be traced only at a later stage. Actually, it is a viral infection that causes a red rash on the body. Aside from the rash, people usually have a fever and swollen lymph nodes.
The infection can spread from person to person through contact with droplets from an infected person’s sneeze or cough. This means one can get the infection if he touches his mouth, nose, or eyes after touching something that has droplets from an infected person on it. One may also get the infection by sharing food or drinks with someone who is infected, he said.
The symptoms are pink or red rash that begins on the face and then spreads downward to the rest of the body; mild fever (usually under 102°F); swollen and tender lymph nodes, runny or stuffy nose; headache; muscle pain; inflamed or red eyes, said Murmu. In order to prevent the problem, vaccination is the only way. Our goal is to accelerate population immunity by reaching 100 percent target children with MR vaccine that will reduce cases and deaths from measles and disabilities from congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), he said.
“All of us must make concerted efforts to weed out the virus of this disease from the district,” added Murmu.