Mexico Reports First Measles Death in Four Years

Following the death of a French baby girl due to measles, the first in four years, Mexico stepped up a vaccination campaign against the disease.

"There's no need for alarm, but we're asking for cooperation from everybody, particularly those who have not been vaccinated," Health Minister Jose Angel Cordoba told Televisa television Friday.

Measles | Rubeola - Causes, Symptoms, Complications, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention
Measles is a viral infection with symptoms of fever,and rashes. Measles is prevented by vaccination and staying away from the infected individuals.

The 18-month-old girl showed symptoms of the disease, including fever and a cough, five days after arriving in Mexico on July 10 from France.

The Mexico City neighborhood where she was staying was placed on a health watch this week while vaccination booths for the highly-contagious disease appeared at the international airport Friday.

"Everyone under 39 who has not had measles must be vaccinated as well as children under 12 who have not had a first vaccination," Cordoba said.

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The last indigenous case of measles in Mexico was detected 14 years ago and the last case from a foreign country was in 2007, he added.

Source-AFP

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