Foundation contributes to regaining measles elimination

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) announced on 11/12 that Brazil is once again measles-free. The official certificate was presented to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the Minister of Health, Nísia Trindade. In a ceremony at PAHO's headquarters in Brasília, also on Tuesday, researchers and health authorities who contributed directly to regaining certification were honored by the organization. The ceremony was attended by the director of PAHO, Jarbas Barbosa, the organization's representative in Brazil, Socorro Gross, and Minister Nísia.

Marilda Siqueira was honored with a replica of the certificate of elimination of measles in Brazil, presented by the Minister of Health, Nísia Trindade, by the representative of PAHO in the country, Socorro Gross, and by the director of the entity, Jarbas Barbosa (photo: Matheus Damascena / MS)

Virologist Marilda Siqueira, head of the Laboratory of Respiratory Viruses, Exanthematics, Enteroviruses and Viral Emergencies at the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/Fiocruz), was one of those honored. The Laboratory acts as a national reference for the Ministry of Health and a regional reference for the World Health Organization (WHO) for rubella and measles.

In 2016, Brazil achieved measles-free status. However, in 2018, low vaccination coverage allowed the virus to reintroduce itself into the country. Now, the recertification marks the recovery of Americas' status as a measles-free region.

Measles elimination is the result of an effort that began in 1991 with the creation of the then National Measles Control Program, of which IOC's Laboratory has been a part since the beginning, contributing to defining strategies to control and later eliminate the disease.

For over three decades, the Laboratory has been involved in training the professionals responsible for measles epidemiological and laboratory surveillance at the Central Public Health Laboratories (Lacens), seeking to ensure the correct diagnosis and interpretation of test results, as well as providing technical advice to various Latin American countries. The team also attends meetings with local and international authorities, prepares technical documents and scientific articles and supervises dozens of masters and doctors in producing theses and dissertations.

As a national reference for the disease, the Laboratory contributed to the preparation of reports on the evidence of cases diagnosed in the country presented by the Ministry of Health to the International Expert Committee for

Measles and Rubella Elimination, with the aim of regaining certification. "It was tough to lose certification five years ago. We had the introduction of imported cases that ended up infecting unimmunized Brazilians. The whole population needs to be alert. This is a very serious disease that spreads quickly and affects our children in particular. In recent years, the world has been bombarded with misinformation about vaccinations. Vaccines save millions of lives every year," said Marilda.

"Even with the news that measles has been eliminated, surveillance will not stop. We need to remain vigilant. As there is still incidence of the disease abroad, there is a possibility of imported cases. Parents and guardians need to keep their children's vaccination schedule up to date," added the virologist.

PAHO emphasizes that measles is one of the most contagious diseases. The virus is transmitted by secretions from the nose, mouth and throat of infected people. Symptoms consist of high fever, a generalized rash all over the body, nasal congestion and eye irritation. The infection can cause serious complications such as blindness, encephalitis, severe diarrhea, ear infections and pneumonia, especially in children with nutritional problems and immunosuppressed patients.