A child has been diagnosed with measles in Jönköping, the region announces in a press release. The child was infected abroad and fell ill at home in Sweden.
Five people who were exposed to the infection have also received preventive treatment with vaccine.
"Measles is extremely contagious and we therefore always conduct thorough contact tracing around all cases, in order to try to find people who may be susceptible to infection and who could fall ill. In the best case, it is then possible to provide vaccine or treatment with immunoglobulin afterwards to prevent these people from falling ill," says Malin Bengnér, infectious disease doctor in Region Jönköping County in the press release.
The number of measles cases has increased sharply in Europe in recent years. Earlier this year, the WHO warned that nearly 35 million children worldwide lack adequate protection against measles.
Measles causes fever and cough, followed by red rash. Infants have the greatest risk of severe illness.
