City Hall gives measles shots

Members of the hundred plus cultural contingent travelling to Germany on Monday for World Cup 2006 turned up at the Port-of-Spain City Corporation yesterday, to receive free inoculation against German measles.

Also there for shots were concerned members of the public travelling to Germany to support Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors at the World Cup and regular members of the public who go to City Hall every friday for clinic visits.

An outbreak of German measles occurs every three to four years and members of the public were advised recently that an outbreak was detected in several European countries including Germany, Denmark, Greece, Spain, Sweden and Ukraine. Persons seeking inoculation for German measles at private doctors have to fork out $175.

German measles is a mild infectious illness caused by the rubella virus.

The symptoms include swollen glands behind the ears, neck, loss of appetite, sore throat and a rash that last three days. Once you have had German measles you will not get it again.

A blood test is required to determine if a person has German measles.

It is also considered a contagious viral infection with mild symptoms associated with a rash accompanied by a runny nose and slight fever.

It is spread by fine droplets of moisture which contains the virus.

Droplets are produced when the infected person sneeze, cough or talk to another person.

Meanwhile, reports are that Government has spent over $6 million to send the contingent to Germany and that figure does not represent other costs, such as fees to artistes or anti-viral injections.