An eight-year-old boy from the municipality of El Mezquital died Tuesday at the Maternal and Child Hospital in Durango’s capital city, following complications from measles, the state’s Health Department reported.
Health Secretary Moisés Nájera Torres confirmed that it was an imported case, detected within a family of farmworkers returning from work in the state of Sinaloa. According to the official, the infection did not originate in Durango, but was acquired outside the state.
The boy was admitted to the hospital in critical condition after experiencing at least five consecutive days of high fever, in addition to other characteristic symptoms of the disease, such as skin rashes and general malaise. According to the official report, the patient had pre-existing conditions, which worsened his clinical condition and reduced his ability to fight the infection.
Medical personnel applied the corresponding protocols for the management of communicable diseases. However, due to the unfavorable progression of the illness, the child died despite the efforts of the healthcare team.
Following confirmation of the death, health authorities activated epidemiological surveillance measures in the family’s area of origin and among potential contacts to rule out further infections and contain any outbreak.
The Ministry of Health also issued an urgent appeal to the public to review and complete their vaccination schedules, especially for children and individuals who travel or work outside the state.
Key points of the appeal include:
Mandatory Vaccination: The importance of vaccination is emphasized for individuals who travel frequently for work, such as agricultural workers, as well as those who travel to other states.
Availability: Authorities assured that there is a sufficient supply of MR (measles, mumps, rubella) and MMR (measles, rubella) vaccines at health centers and hospitals throughout the state.
Target population: The immunization schedule is aimed at people from 6 months to 49 years of age, in accordance with federal guidelines.
Measles is a highly contagious disease, but preventable through vaccination. Therefore, it is crucial to remain vigilant and visit immunization centers promptly to prevent new cases and protect the most vulnerable groups.
Source: vanguardia
