The Balearic Health Service has detected a community outbreak of measles in Mallorca that already affects six people and originates from a minor tourist who arrived on the island and was treated on July 19 in the Pediatric Emergency Department of the Son Espases University Hospital. Health authorities keep contact tracing open due to the risk of new cases appearing after the movements and meetings that have occurred in recent weeks.
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The six infections are related to each other, although Public Health rules out the hospital as the origin of the outbreak. The epidemiological investigation has established that the minor was the index case and that the affected individuals subsequently began to develop symptoms at the end of July. Health authorities also do not rule out that some of the affected were infected in the emergency room while waiting for medical attention.
Health authorities do not rule out that some infections occurred in the emergency room
The fact that the infection occurred during the peak tourist season is of particular concern to health officials due to the high mobility and large number of contacts that occur in Mallorca during these dates. The outbreak mainly affects people without vaccine protection. Five of the six confirmed cases had not received the vaccine, and there is no vaccination history information for the sixth.
Close contacts must monitor their health status for 23 days after exposure, especially if they are unvaccinated. Health authorities have activated the measures provided in national protocols to try to break the chains of transmission.
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Protocols have been activated to try to contain the chain of infections
Additionally, Public Health has recommended the use of FFP2 masks in healthcare centers and has asked healthcare and non-healthcare personnel to be extra vigilant for possible symptoms and to review their vaccination status.
Measles usually causes fever, malaise, cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis before the appearance of the characteristic skin rash. The incubation period is usually between 10 and 14 days, although it can be up to 23 days, so authorities maintain surveillance over people who may have been exposed to the virus.
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