The Emergency Relief Service has recorded 114 cases of measles in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes since January. © Marina Demidyuk / iStock
Since the beginning of the year, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes has faced a sharp increase in measles cases, especially in the Rhône region.
Public Health France and the Regional Health Agency (ARS) call on residents of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region to be vigilant. This has led to an increase in measles cases since September 2023. In 2024 alone, 114 cases were announced, mainly in Ardèche, Haute-Savoie, Drôme and the Rhône.
One patient can infect up to 20 people
In this context, the ARS strongly recommends that all people born after 1980 check their vaccination status. In fact, in every outbreak, the original case has been an unvaccinated person returning from abroad. However, the only epicenter still active in the region is the Rhone region, with 84 cases between January 22 and June 4, according to ARS.
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As a reminder, measles is a highly contagious disease that must be reported. It is caused by a virus transmitted through respiratory or direct contact. In the absence of preventive measures, one patient can infect up to 20 people.
Symptoms often appear 10 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. It is characterized by high temperature, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and general fatigue. The rash usually appears on the face before spreading throughout the body. Respiratory or neurological complications can occur at any age, especially in frail people. This means pregnant women, children under one year of age and people with weakened immunity.
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