Dr. Deepal Perera, a consultant pediatrician at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, has expressed concern about the recent surge in measles infections in the country, stating that the infection could potentially lead to sudden deaths.
According to Dr. Perera, within the past three days, a total of 15 suspected measles cases have been reported at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, with the remaining patients clinically diagnosed with the disease. Out of these cases, seven have been confirmed to be infected with measles.
Dr. Perera further highlighted that the primary reason behind the spread of the disease is the lack of immunization among individuals.
Notably, it has been discovered that a significant number of children were not administered immunization vaccines due to religious reasons. This situation poses a potential threat to society as there is a risk of the virus spreading among unvaccinated individuals.
Previously, the government used to administer Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccines to children at nine months and again when they turned three years old. However, those who have not received immunization are at risk of contracting measles.
According to the Ministry of Health Sri Lanka achieved a measles vaccination coverage above 95% in the year 2020 and 2021. Since Sri Lanka was able to keep the high vaccination coverage even during the pandemic, the country has been able to remain free of measles cases until this year.
In light of this, Dr. Perera strongly urges people to get vaccinated immediately in order to prevent further spread of the disease. He emphasized that common complications of measles include diarrhea, vomiting, and malnutrition, while in the long term, the disease can also affect the brain. Therefore, taking necessary precautions, such as timely vaccination, is essential to mitigate these risks.