Measles diagnosed in Iceland

Children have to have reached 18 months of age to …

Children have to have reached 18 months of age to be vaccinated. Photo: Iceland Monitor/RAX / Ragnar Axelsson

A 9 month old Icelandic child has been confirmed to have measles. The child is not yet vaccinated due to its young age. The family was recently on holiday in Thailand, shortly after returning to Iceland the child got a fever, rash and respiratory problems. The Icelandic State Hospital have started mapping out who came in contact with the child, and offer them help if not vaccinated.

90-95% of Icelandic children are vaccinated

A press release from the Directory of Health in Iceland states that 90-95% of Icelandic children are vaccinated for measles, rubella and mumps. And that Iceland has one of the highest one of the highest percentage of vaccinated children in Europe. The last measles epidemic in Iceland was in 1977.

“It’s unlikely we’ll get a measles epidemic in Iceland. There is always a chance individuals that have not been vaccinated can be infected. They are particularly dangerous to children that are too young to be vaccinated.”

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