The public health department provides information on measles
Due to the current situation - an outbreak of measles in the initial reception centre for asylum seekers in Chemnitz, Adalbert-Stifter-Weg - the Chemnitz public health department would like to provide information on this infectious disease.
There have been four confirmed cases and two suspected cases of measles infection at the centre. As a precautionary measure, all asylum seekers accommodated in the centre have been ordered to stop moving and the infected persons have been quarantined within the accommodation facility.
Information on measles infections
- What is measles? How is it transmitted?
Measles is an infectious disease that only occurs in humans and can be transmitted quickly to unprotected people through droplet infection when coughing, speaking or sneezing.
- What are the symptoms of the disease?
After an incubation period of nine to twelve days, the first symptoms develop, initially in the form of signs of infection in the upper respiratory tract (fever, runny nose). Typical symptoms during this period are the appearance of Koplik's spots on the cheek mucosa and photophobia due to inflammation of the conjunctiva. Sufferers should therefore lie in slightly darkened rooms. The disease is already contagious in this phase.
This is followed by the second phase of the disease, which is characterised by the typical brownish-pink rash, the so-called measles exanthema, which begins behind the ears and moves downwards over the body in four to seven days. When it subsides, it often leaves behind a "bran-like" scaling. High fever can also occur again during this phase.
The complications of this infectious disease are particularly feared, such as severe inflammation of the middle ears, lungs and brain, often with permanent damage.
- How long are you contagious?
You are contagious about five days before the rash appears and up to four days after the rash appears.
- Who is particularly at risk?
Anyone without adequate immunisation can contract measles. Newborns and infants up to the age of 1, who are still too young to be immunised, are particularly vulnerable.
- What else you should know:
Anyone who has contracted measles once is protected against a new infection for life. This applies primarily to those born before 1958.
- What is the best way to protect yourself against measles?
The best protection against measles is vaccination against it.
In the Free State of Saxony, a first combined vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella is currently publicly recommended from the age of 12 months and the second vaccination from the age of 5 years (vaccination calendar).
If necessary (incubation with measles), this second vaccination can also be given only four weeks before the first.
There is no age limit for a measles vaccination, i.e. all persons susceptible to measles can receive this standard vaccination from their family doctor.
In view of the summer holiday season and the associated stays in countries with an increased or unknown incidence of measles, the public health department would also like to draw attention to a possible increased incidence of measles and appeal to parents in particular who have not yet or not fully vaccinated their children to cooperate on their own responsibility.
Please check that your vaccination documents are complete, seek advice from your family doctor or paediatrician and get vaccinated if necessary.