‘34% mothers exposed to measles, rubella’

A study conducted by the National Institute of Speech and Hearing (NISH), Thiruvananthapuram, conducted about 10 years ago had found that 34% of mothers were exposed to measles and rubella.

The study was a result of an earlier finding that out of the 700 children brought to the institute with hearing loss, about 12% were those affected by rubella fever contracted by mothers in the first trimester of pregnancy.

There had been a sort of rubella epidemic in the intensive care unit of the SAT Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, in which 25 cases were reported. Padmaja M., honorary ENT consultant, NISH, who had conducted the studies told

The Hindu that apart from the NISH study, there were various reports on congenital ophthalmic disorders, cardiac disorders, mental retardation and other disabilities that were reported from other institutes that had led to the formulation of the policy to introduce the measles-rubella vaccine to children in Classes 9 and 10 a few years ago.

However, the anti-vaccine lobby had created much confusion about vaccinations that parents were not convinced as to why such a vaccination was required, she said.