KUANTAN: The number of measles cases in Pahang has alarmingly increased by 200 percent (21 cases) this year compared to only seven cases reported during the same period between Jan 1 and March 16 last year.
State health director Datuk Dr Sha’ari Ngadiman said parents shunning vaccinations was a major concern as 30 per cent of measles cases in Pahang was due to their failure to provide immunisation.
He urged parents to bring their children to the nearby clinics to receive the vaccination as it will help prevent their children from measles and other complications.
“Measles is highly contagious and is transmitted through the air and direct contact with the patient. Children infected by measles have to be isolated from others and must not be allowed to attend day-care centres, kindergartens or schools.
“Avoid bringing these children to public places especially when meeting high risk groups including infants and patients with weak immune system especially cancer patients, those with HIV/Aids and those going through chemotherapy,” he said in a statement, here, today.
Sha’ari said while the department continues to promote vaccination, parents must play an important role to help reduce the risk of measles which could lead to severe complications or death by bringing their children for vaccination.
He said records revealed that Kuantan was the worst affected district with 19 cases while Rompin and Temerloh had one case each.
Measles will cause complications of which among them are fever, rashes, ear infection, diarrhoea, lung or brain infection, permanent disability and death.