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Rubella, or measles, can be extremely dangerous for unvaccinated infants under 12 months old. Parents, paediatricians, and childcare facilities have to pay particular attention to any potential outbreaks and be ready to react quickly in case of a suspected infection.
Educators at a nursery in Bridel are particularly aware of these infectious diseases and the necessary barrier gestures required to prevent further spread, says Géraldine Kassel of the KidsCare Group. There are also clear procedures to follow in the event of such an infection, including increasing ventilation of the rooms, and stricter hygiene measures.
Kassel said there were two suspected cases of measles at the nursery, although fortunately both were false alarms. A measles infection can have serious consequences for children who have not yet been vaccinated, and in severe cases, it can even be fatal.
Rapid response is key
Staff at the health inspection service hope to avoid situations in which a measles infection spreads among infants in a childcare setting. Anne Vergison, head of the health inspection department, explains it is above all important to act quickly in case of a suspected measles infection. The department should be informed immediately of any suspicions.
"The crèches warn us of any suspected cases, GPs are also very attentive and will warn us of suspicions. This helps us to prepare as the window for vaccination is very short."
The best protection for babies under a year old, however, is if everyone in their environment is vaccinated. This is particularly important to the management at the Bridel crèche.
"There are scheduled medical examinations where staff will see the occupational doctor, who will check if they are guaranteed to have up-to-date vaccinations," Kassel explains.
Measles vaccination is not mandatory
There is no obligation to vaccinate people who are in contact with vulnerable people in this country. Vergison does not consider it mandatory necessarily:
"I think that we have not necessarily benefited from the vaccination obligations. There are always pros and cons. We have never practised it in the past. I think that raising awareness works quite well, and in Luxembourg we have always tried to spread awareness and transmit information via the media, via doctors, staff, occupational health, and so on, to ensure childcare staff are properly vaccinated."
In principle, around 98% of Luxembourg's population is vaccinated against measles. In order for the vaccine to be effective for a lifetime, people must have received two doses - but this is not always the case, warns Vergison. In the late 1980s and early 90s, vaccination discipline slackened somewhat, meaning a number of children missed out on their second dose of the vaccine in that time period. It is therefore important for people within this age group to check if they are fully vaccinated.
While the risk is small, consequences can be severe
Apart from a recent case in which a Luxair passenger was found to have a measles infection in July, the last confirmed measles infection in Luxembourg occurred in 2019.
The disease is viral, so antibiotics cannot help. Measles are highly contagious and can be transmitted when an infected individual breathes, coughs or sneezes. The virus infects the patient's respiratory tract before spreading through the body. Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, and typically a rash will develop all over the body within a few days.
Above all, the after-effects can be dangerous, as they can cause infections of the brain, or serious breathing issues, including pneumonia.
