Unvaccinated man with measles at St. Maria. Family members already vaccinated

Um unvaccinated adult is hospitalized with measles and in isolation at Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon, and the authorities have already vaccinated the relatives close to the patient, today confirmed the health unit.

In a note to the media after Radio Renascença (RR) reported the case, the Local Health Unit of Santa Maria (ULSSM) also informs that the clinical evolution of this patient is favorable and that the public health measures defined in such cases have been rigorously and exhaustively applied.

According to RR, more than 400 contacts of this man have already been identified, who will have used the emergency services of the hospitals of Santa Maria and Lusíadas Lisboa on 03, 04 and 06 October.

ULSSM underlines that there is a strong group immunity in this area in Portugal, “result of an effective vaccination plan”, and reinforces the importance of adherence to vaccination.

In an information released at the end of August, the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) reported that Portugal had registered nine confirmed cases of measles since the beginning of the year, considering that the high vaccination coverage functioned as an “important barrier” to the transmission of the virus in the country.

Measles are one of the most contagious infections and are transmitted from person to person by air through droplets or aerosols of infected people (cough or sneezing). Usually the disease is benign, but in some cases it can be severe or lead to death.