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measles wave
Measles have spread in Berlin for months - now an infant has died from the infectious disease . The child at the age of one and a half had succumbed to the disease in a hospital on 18 February, said Berlin health senator Mario Czaja (CDU). So far, it is still unclear how it was infected.
The State Office for Health and Welfare reports that 574 cases have been reported since the outbreak of measles (October 2014). According to the education administration, unvaccinated teachers have been taken out of service. A school in Berlin-Lichtenberg had been closed on Monday as a precaution.
Since the introduction of the 2001 Infection Protection Act, this is the largest measles wave in the capital. The reason: fewer and fewer parents have their children vaccinated against the infectious disease. Recently, a touching letter from a worried mother caused a stir.
In view of the drastically increasing numbers, vaccination is being discussed. Federal Health Minister Hermann Gröhe criticized vaccine opponents: "The irrational fear-scare of some vaccine opponents is irresponsible, " said Gröhe the sheet. "Anyone who refuses vaccination to his child not only endangers his own child, but also others - this can lead to serious damage to health."
