Measles case in Dornbirn: The public is called upon to get vaccinated!

Measles case in Dornbirn: The public is called upon to get vaccinated!

The health authorities in Vorarlberg are currently concerned about a confirmed case of measles. A man living in Vienna who fell ill while visiting his parents in the Dornbirn district is being treated in the hospital there. The Dornbirn district administration immediately initiated all necessary measures to control the situation and prevent further infections. Vienna.at reports that State Health Councilor Martina Rüscher (ÖVP) strongly emphasizes the danger of measles and points out the importance of vaccinations.

Vaccinations against measles are free and offer reliable protection. The State Health Directorate expressly recommends that people who have either not been vaccinated twice or who have not had a proven case of measles in the past should get vaccinated. Measles is considered a highly contagious infectious disease and is transmitted primarily through droplets, for example when speaking or coughing.

Routes of transmission and symptoms

The disease primarily affects people without vaccination protection. Contact with an infected person almost always leads to illness in unprotected individuals. According to information from the Federal Statistical Office Symptoms usually begin 8 to 10 days after infection with fever, cough and runny nose. After about 14 days, a characteristic rash appears. More serious complications are particularly common in infants and the elderly.

The highly contagious measles poses a significant risk, particularly for vulnerable age groups such as children under five and adults over 20. The figures from 2024 show a dramatic increase: 127,350 cases of measles were reported in Europe, the highest number in more than 25 years. What is particularly worrying is that children under the age of five accounted for 40% of reported cases.

Vaccination rate and international comparison

The general vaccination rate in Germany for the second dose against measles is 93%, which is below the 95% rate necessary to prevent the spread. Compared to other EU countries, Hungary recorded the highest vaccination rate in 2023 at 99%, while Romania had the lowest rate at just 62%. In the same year, Romania recorded the highest incidence in the EU with 192.3 cases per 1 million inhabitants.

The decline in measles cases caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is now over. The pandemic led to a decrease in cases in the past, but the number of cases has increased sharply since 2023. To stop the spread of the disease, increasing vaccination rates is crucial. Further information about the vaccination campaign can be found in the document Robert Koch Institute to read.