Region free of local measles tramsmission

The announcement was made by the expert committee at the recent 55th Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) held in Washington DC, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) said in a release.

“No local measles cases have been reported in the Caribbean Region since 1991,” CARPHA Executive Director Dr C James Hosepdales said.

He warned, however, that “we cannot become complacent, as measles still circulates in other parts of the world” and “due to the high intensity of international travel related to the large tourism sector, the Caribbean region remains at high risk for the importation of measles and rubella cases.” The region being declared free of local measles transmission, the release said, means children in the Caribbean are now less likely to be affected by measles, once they are vaccinated.

Measles affects mostly children and is one of the most contagious diseases.

The widespread use of the vaccine has led to a great reduction in measles cases in the region, the release said.

Between 1971 and 1979, more than 100,000 deaths in the Americas were attributable to measles.