Measles, risk of epidemic in Italy? The advice (on social media) from infectious disease specialist Bassetti

Cases of measles in our country (we talked about it here). From January 1st to March 31st of this year they were notified 213 cases, of which 34 in January, 93 in February and 86 in March 2024, as revealed by the surveillance system, coordinated by the Infectious Diseases Department of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità. The surge in infections is due to decline in vaccinations against measles. In our country, in fact, coverage is less than 95 percentwhich is the safety threshold recommended by the World Health Organization to guarantee theimmunity «of community» in the population, that is to protect indirectly even those who, for health reasons, cannot be vaccinated. Should we be worried about the “return” of measles? Is there a risk of an epidemic also in Italy as is happening in other European countries (see here)? What to do?

How to know if you are vaccinated

To counter the return of this very contagious infectious disease which can also become dangerous, what each of us can do? According to the infectious disease specialist Matteo Bassetti, head of infectious diseases at the San Martino Polyclinic in Genoa, who spoke on his social channels: «If you have not been vaccinated or have not had the disease, or you have doubts about it, just ask your doctor treating her prescription for serological examination That certifies whether you are immune. Then, if you are not, you can get vaccinated. Among other things, with two doses, or if the disease has occurred, immunity is permanent.”