Saran launches immunization campaign against measles
Chhapra: Saran district health department has launched a special immunization campaign against measles as part of India's
Measles-Rubella elimination campaign
2025-26. Children between nine months and two years of age are the main target group of this campaign. District immunization officer Dr Suman Kumar said the purpose of this campaign was to increase the rate of immunization in the district and cover each and every child of the above-mentioned age group. Immunization is an important event of life, he added, appealing to every guardian to get their children immunized. Unicef's Dr Aarti Tripathi said that during the campaign the health workers would visit each and every house for the purpose.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Measles outbreak 2025 in the U.S.: Cases quadruple, near 30-year high—What's really going on?
Measles—once thought to be kicked out of the U.S. for good in 2000—is making an alarming return in 2025. This year alone, over 1,100 cases have been reported across the country, the most seen in nearly 30 years. The outbreak started in West Texas, but it hasn't stayed there—it's now spread to at least 17 states, including California, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. So, what's causing this comeback no one asked for? Why is Measles back? Falling vaccination rates According to the CDC, fewer than 95% of kindergartners were fully vaccinated in the 2022–2023 school year. That 95% mark isn't just a goal—it's the magic number needed for herd immunity, the thing that keeps the virus from bouncing around schools and neighborhoods. Right now, about a quarter-million kids each year are unprotected, and that's a big part of the problem. More vaccine exemptions is more risk Several states have relaxed their vaccination rules, allowing exemptions for religious or personal reasons. Places like Mississippi, once a top performer in vaccination coverage, now allow religious exemptions, which has dragged down their rates. More loopholes = more unprotected kids. Under-vaccinated communities The biggest hotspot right now? Gaines County in West Texas, especially among Mennonite families, where nearly 14% of kids skipped required vaccines last school year. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like At Last, An ED Pill for 87¢ That Actually Works Health Alliance by Friday Plans Learn More Undo It's the epicenter of the outbreak, but other under-vaccinated communities are just as vulnerable. Global travel bringing it back Measles doesn't need a passport. Travelers coming in from countries where measles is still active are unknowingly reintroducing the virus to the U.S. In fact, a bunch of recent cases in Texas and New Mexico have been linked directly to international travel. The MMR vaccine: Your best defense Let's get one thing straight: vaccination works. The MMR shot (that's measles, mumps, rubella) is a powerhouse—it offers up to 97% protection after two doses. It teaches your immune system to fight off the real virus without actually getting sick. When enough people are vaccinated, the virus has nowhere to go. That's herd immunity, and it's crucial for protecting those who can't get the shot—like infants, the elderly, or people with certain health conditions. In Texas, the scare has already led to a 10% rise in vaccination rates in hard-hit areas like Gaines County. But some families are still holding out, turning to alternative remedies that don't actually prevent measles. What does measles feel like? At first, measles feels like a really nasty cold. You're tired, you've got a high fever (101°F or more), a dry cough, and super watery, red eyes that hate bright lights. Throw in a runny nose and sneezing, and it's easy to mistake it for the flu. T hen come the red flags: tiny white spots inside your mouth (called Koplik spots) that look like grains of salt with a red background. That's one of the first signs doctors look for. Next up: the classic measles rash. It usually starts at your hairline or behind your ears and spreads down your body. It's flat and blotchy, sometimes merging into bigger patches. The rash sticks around for about a week, often while your fever's still going strong. When to see a doctor If you (or your kid) has a rash + fever, especially with those telltale mouth spots or flu-like symptoms, don't wait. Measles spreads fast—like, really fast—and it can lead to serious complications, especially for kids and people with weak immune systems. Measles might sound like an old-school disease, but it's clearly not staying in the past. The best way to keep it that way? Vaccinate. Protect yourself, your family, and your community. The virus doesn't stand a chance if we all do our part. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Canada infant born with measles from unvaccinated mother dies
A Canadian infant who was born prematurely and had measles has died, officials said Thursday without confirming a cause of death, raising heightened concern about the virus's resurgence. Canada has recorded 2,755 measles cases including 2,429 confirmed and 326 probable according to federal health data updated on June 2. The epicenter of the outbreak is the province of Ontario, where nearly 2,000 cases have been reported. Ontario's chief medical officer of health, Kieran Moore, said in a statement "the infant contracted the virus before birth from their mother, who had not received the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine." "While measles may have been a contributing factor in both the premature birth and death, the infant also faced other serious medical complications unrelated to the virus," he added. In March, Moore said the outbreak was "disproportionately affecting some Mennonite, Amish, and other Anabaptist communities," partly due to lower rates of vaccination among those populations. If measles is confirmed as the cause of the infant's death, it would mark the first fatality linked to the current outbreak. After Ontario, the next hardest hit area is the western province of Alberta, with 632 confirmed cases, according to the federal data. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus spread through droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or simply breathes. Known for its characteristic rash, it poses a serious risk to unvaccinated individuals, including infants under 12 months who are not ordinarily eligible for vaccination, and those with weakened immune systems. It can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia, brain swelling, premature birth and in rare cases, death. Hundreds died each year from the virus in Canada before widespread immunization programs were introduced in the early 1970s. It was considered eradicated in 1998 but cases continue to occur due to spread from other countries. The United States is also confronting a significant measles resurgence, with a vaccine-skeptical Mennonite Christian community straddling the Texas-New Mexico border hit particularly hard. President Donald Trump's Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has undermined confidence in the vaccine a highly effective shot he has falsely claimed is dangerous and contains fetal debris. amc/bs/sms
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Refugee camp schools at risk in Bangladesh in aid crisis
Global aid cuts have forced the UN children's agency to sack more than 1,000 teachers in Bangladesh camps for Rohingya refugees, with more jobs at risk without funding. Around a million members of the persecuted and mostly Muslim Rohingya live in squalid relief camps in Bangladesh, most of them after fleeing a 2017 military crackdown in neighbouring Myanmar. The teacher firings come in the wake of dramatic US funding cuts. "Due to the global aid funding crisis, UNICEF has had to make difficult decisions impacting early education services for Rohingya refugee children," the agency said in a statement late Tuesday. UNICEF said that the contracts of 1,179 people working on kindergarten and primary schools were terminated. Before the cuts, there were an estimated 4,000 teachers in the camps, according to Bangladeshi senior government aid official, Md Shamsud Douza. Schools have closed for the Muslim holiday of Eid, but if fresh funding is not secured by the time term resumes at the end of June, more teachers could lose their jobs. "The return of the rest of the on new funding being secured," UNICEF added. "We remain committed and hopeful that increased support will restore what every child deserves: a future." Humanitarian organisations worldwide have been reeling since US President Donald Trump returned to office in January, freezing most foreign aid funding. The United States has traditionally been by far the top donor to a number of agencies, which have been left scrambling to fill sudden budget gaps. "We are deeply aware of the urgent needs faced by Rohingya refugee children, many of whom have already endured significant trauma and disruptions to their education, health, nutrition and protection," UNICEF added. "Our goal is to ensure they have essential skills, that they have basic qualifications that give them confidence to contribute to their communities when the time is safe for them to return." sa/pjm/lb
