The infectious disease specialist Matteo Bassetti raised an alarm onmeasles epidemic 2024 after the data released byHigher Institute of Health.
ISS data on the 2024 measles epidemic
In the first 3 months of 2024 they were 213 the cases of measles in Italy, 85% of which were confirmed (181). Thirty-four infections were reported in January, 93 in February and 86 in March. Almost 9 out of 10 infected (88.2%) they were not vaccinated.
This was indicated by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità inlatest bulletin treated by the national epidemiological surveillance on measles and rubella.
The regions with the most cases of measles
Of the total measles cases recorded from January 1st to March 31st, 18 (8.4%) are imported. 68% of infections (146 out of 213) were reported from 3 regions (il Laziowhich reports the highest incidence, the Sicily and the Tuscany).
The median age of those infected is 31 years, but the highest incidence was observed in the 0-4 age group; 11 infected people were less than one year old. In 20 cases transmission occurred in hospital and 11 cases were reported among healthcare workers.
Fifty-six cases (26.3%) reported at least one complication, including 23 cases of pneumonia and one case of encephalitis in a young, unvaccinated adult. During the same period, no cases of rubella were reported.
Matteo Bassetti, head of the infectious diseases department of the San Martino Polyclinic in Genoa.
Bassetti’s warning about the measles epidemic in 2024
According to what Matteo Bassetti declared to the ‘Adnkronos’ agency, the data communicated by the ISS “confirm that unfortunately in this 2024 an epidemic has started: we have significant numbers, 213 cases in 3 months, compared to 2023 with few cases. It’s only the beginning, the worst is to come and I fear that it will be at the turn of the summer“.
The head of the infectious diseases department of the San Martino Polyclinic in Genoa then added: “The affected population is unvaccinated or with only one dose, between 15 and 40 years old. (…) It strikes me that no one worries about complications: it is not a calm and manageable disease, if you catch it as an adult it can be serious and cause complications”.
Matteo Bassetti’s appeal: “La vaccination it is the protection tool that the National Health Service must put in place. It is no longer the initiative of the individual, but the intervention of the State which must protect itself with vaccinations is needed.”
Photo source: ANSA
