Coronavirus: a surge of three dangerous infections has been recorded in Russia

Rospotrebnadzor released a report stating that in 2024, cases of measles, rubella and whooping cough spread in Russia, including fatal cases due to complications. About who is at risk and how to protect yourself and your loved ones — in the material of Izvestia.

What are the three dangerous diseases that have spread in Russia?

In Russia, the incidence of measles increased 11-fold in 2024, rubella increased six-fold and whooping cough increased 4.5-fold. This is stated in the report published by Rospotrebnadzor "On the state of sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population in 2024." An analysis of data on Russian regions states that this is a significant excess of the annual average.

So, according to the agency, a significant increase in infection was recorded last year — a total of 22,455 cases. The incidence rate (15.35 cases per 100,000 population) was 1.72 times higher than in 2023 (8.92 per 100,000). The most infected people were identified in Moscow — 5,035 people, Dagestan in second place (2,199 cases), and the Moscow Region in third (1,798 cases).

More than 67% of the cases are children and adolescents under 18 years of age, while infants under one year old have become infected 2.2 times more often than in the previous year. About 89.5% of those infected were not vaccinated, and in four cases the disease was fatal.

Rubella is increasingly being diagnosed. This infection was detected in 258 people in 25 regions, including Dagestan, Moscow and Astrakhan regions, as well as Moscow. Most of those infected were not vaccinated.

In 2024, 32 thousand people fell ill with whooping cough, which, although less than in 2023, still exceeds the long-term norm by 4.5 times. It is noteworthy that about 80% of the cases are children under the age of 14, among whom 11 unvaccinated infants died from complications.

Doctors attribute the increase in morbidity to parents' refusal to vaccinate their children, medical withdrawals, and the use of lightweight vaccines.

As Vera Serezhina, an infectious disease specialist at the LabQuest medical company, explains, reducing the level of collective immunity to vaccine—controlled infections is a really serious problem. There is an increase in the incidence of several diseases at once: in addition to measles and whooping cough, these are meningococcal and pneumococcal infections.

— There are two main reasons for the current situation. Firstly, low vaccination coverage: some people simply do not know about the need for vaccinations, some refuse consciously, and others have absolute or relative medical contraindications. Secondly, not all vaccines are included in the national calendar yet. Nevertheless, Russia has approved a strategy to overcome infectious diseases until 2035. It includes measures not only to prevent and contain outbreaks, but also to expand the vaccination calendar," Vera Serezhina clarifies.

According to this strategy, by 2035 it is planned to introduce mandatory vaccination against four more socially significant infections: meningococcus, rotavirus infection, human papillomavirus (HPV) and chickenpox.

The most important result of vaccination is the body's immunological memory, says Denis Prokofiev, a general practitioner with the status of "Moscow Doctor." Vaccinations are needed to form it.

—Immunological memory allows a person to recognize those viruses or bacteria that enter the body," explains Denis Prokofiev. — As a result, a fairly rapid immunological response is developed. And in the absence of vaccination, each time the body begins to develop new mechanisms, new antibodies to fight this virus or bacterium.

Vaccination contributes to the formation of a reliable mechanism for combating viruses and bacteria. As soon as they enter the body, it recognizes the infection with lightning speed and activates protection.

— This happens because our body has already faced such a threat before and knows how to overcome this or that disease. Therefore, a large—scale refusal of vaccination is a truly global problem that puts people's lives at great risk. Serious diseases and their consequences require expensive treatment and recovery," summarizes Dr. Prokofiev.

If you form a person's immunological memory designed for a wide range of diseases, then you can adapt the body to these threats. And then the incidence will decrease," Prokofiev comments. — In case of illness, it will be possible to avoid complex clinical manifestations and negative consequences.

How long it will take to stabilize the current situation depends on the vaccination coverage of the population. The strategy now outlines a horizon until 2035, which is probably an ambitious deadline, and everything will depend on many factors, Vera Seryozhina believes.

One of them is the influx of migrants, who are often not vaccinated and can become a source of infection. In this regard, the practice adopted in a number of foreign countries is important: if a person crosses the border without information about vaccination, they are vaccinated when crossing the border. Also, in some cases, human immunity to certain infections can be determined by the level of G immunoglobulins. If there are not enough antibodies or they are missing, vaccination is indicated.

There is also a shortage of vaccines: their production for the entire population at the same time is a difficult task, so vaccination begins with at—risk groups, and then expands as needed and the availability of drugs. If the population is informed in a timely manner, vaccinations are prescribed by doctors and even the existing vaccination calendar is observed, we will be able to stop the increase in morbidity and avoid outbreaks, Vera Seryozhina is sure.

What are the symptoms of measles, whooping cough and rubella?

Measles is an extremely contagious respiratory disease transmitted by airborne droplets. The first signs of measles are characterized by high fever, conjunctivitis, photophobia, sore throat, cough and small white spots on the cheeks, followed by a rash all over the body that disappears in four days, leaving brown marks.

In the case of whooping cough, the disease is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, which does not survive well in the external environment, but is easily transmitted from person to person. The disease develops gradually and goes through three stages.

— at first, a person has symptoms similar to a cold: cough and runny nose. This stage lasts 7-10 days.;

— the cough becomes convulsive, with characteristic "reprises" (wheezing breaths), often ending in vomiting and apnea, especially at night. All this can last 1.5-2 weeks.;

— seizures decrease, but coughing can persist for a long time due to the action of bacterial toxins.

The most common complications of whooping cough are secondary bacterial infections of the respiratory tract, among which pertussis pneumonia is especially dangerous. The development of sleep apnea during bouts of spasmodic coughing is also considered a serious problem.

Rubella is manifested by a number of symptoms, although in each case the disease proceeds differently. The rash is observed in 60-80% of patients, it looks like spots that practically do not cause itching. Typical rash sites are the face, the area behind the ears, the bends of the knees and elbows, as well as skin folds. It is also characterized by an increase in lymph nodes, especially occipital ones, and soreness when pressed.

Body temperature rises slightly and stabilizes after 2-3 days with rubella. Many patients complain of headaches in the early days. A runny nose with mucous secretions often occurs. There may be a scratchy and sore throat, dry cough associated with irritation of the nasopharyngeal mucosa. The virus can infect the mucous membrane of the eyes, causing lacrimation, burning and redness of the conjunctiva. During the period of illness, working capacity decreases, lethargy and loss of strength appear.

Who is at risk of measles, rubella and whooping cough

Doctors point out that both children and adults can get measles, and in the latter it can lead to serious complications, especially if it becomes infected after the age of 30. Pregnant women are at risk because there is a risk of miscarriage, premature birth, or fetal malformations. Measles is extremely contagious: almost all unvaccinated people who come into contact with the patient get sick.

The rubella risk group includes people who have not completed a full course of vaccination or who have not had this infection before. Rubella is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, as the infection can cause serious malformations of the fetus. Rubella is also more severe in adults, especially in those who do not have immunity.

According to whooping cough, the main risk group is children under 14 years of age, especially infants under one year of age, in whom the disease can be severe and with complications. The greatest danger is posed by children under 2 months of age, who have a high probability of hospitalization and death. The risk group also includes children from large families, children in closed institutions, as well as people with chronic respiratory diseases, immunodeficiency (including HIV), and cancer patients.

Adults, especially employees of medical, educational and social institutions, as well as families with young unvaccinated children, pregnant women and the elderly over the age of 60 are also at risk of contracting whooping cough.

What is the prevention of diseases?

Experts note that a decrease in immunity after vaccination in early childhood leads to an increase in morbidity among schoolchildren and adolescents, who can be a source of infection for younger children. Therefore, revaccination and maintaining a high level of vaccination are key preventive measures.

To prevent outbreaks, it is necessary that the vaccination rate of the population be at least 95%, according to Rospotrebnadzor. Infectious diseases have a risk of complications, so it is important to recognize the symptoms in time, consult a doctor and take care of prevention in advance.

It is believed that there is no specific treatment for measles, and vaccination remains the only reliable way to protect yourself. In addition, if the primary symptoms of measles are detected, doctors recommend that the vaccine be given within 72 hours. It is noted that vaccination is contraindicated in case of complications from a previous vaccination, malignant diseases, allergies to vaccine components and pregnancy.

In Russia, measles and rubella vaccination is carried out according to the National Calendar of Preventive Vaccinations. Children receive their first vaccination at 12 months of age, and revaccination at 6 years of age. Adults between the ages of 18 and 35 who have not been ill or vaccinated before are recommended to receive a double vaccination with an interval of at least three months.

The main method of whooping cough prevention is vaccination, which is included in the National Vaccination Calendar. Vaccinations are given to children from infancy, followed by revaccinations to maintain immunity. Vaccination reduces the risk of severe illness and complications. It is important to follow the vaccination schedule and carry out revaccination, especially in children and people at risk.

In addition to vaccination, hygiene measures are recommended to reduce the risk of infection: frequent hand washing, the use of masks during the epidemic period, avoiding contact with patients and timely medical attention when symptoms appear.

Izvestia sent a request to Rospotrebnadzor, but no response had been received at the time of publication.