Measles

Measles – A total of 16 cases of measles have been reported at a school in Saint Tropez over the past weeks. Twenty times more contagious than flu, measles is a potentially lethal virus and can be transmitted five days before the onset of symptoms. In Saint-Tropez, three cases required hospitalization. In an attempt to stem the epidemic, the staff of the regional health agency have asked dozens of families  to check their vaccinations. Vaccination against measles was not mandatory for children born before January 1, last year.

Figures show that  in the Provence Alpes Cpite d’Azur region, only 81.1% of the inhabitants believe that the vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) is effective, compared to  83.7% at a national level . Among parents of children aged 1 to 15 living in the region, 32% have already refused a vaccine recommended by their doctor for their child because they thought the vaccine was dangerous or unnecessary (compared to 26% nationally).