Turkey's response to measles outbreak questioned

Turkey has recently faced a number of challenges, including terrorism and unemployment, after being swamped by refugees fleeing the Syrian civil war. Now another problem has emerged in the form of measles. The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) claims that the refugees are contributing to an increase in measles cases in the country.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned last year of measles, tuberculosis and contagious skin diseases spreading in Syrian refugee camps in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. Despite WHO's warning, the Turkish government's response appears lymphatic. During a budget debate in parliament Nov. 20, Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu claimed that the situation was “under control.”

According to statistics Muezzinoglu cited, cases of measles numbered 1,119 in 2005, 34 in 2006, 3 in 2007, 4 in 2008, four in 2009, 7 in 2010, 111 in 2011, 359 in 2012 and 7,405 in 2013. Thus far in 2014, the number of cases has been down, at 503. “We witnessed a peak in May and June last year. Then a decline began,” said Muezzinoglu. To this observer, the minister’s unconcerned attitude represents a typical Turkish attitude toward disease, conveying “I am not at risk.”

Robert Perry of WHO said earlier this month that the global campaign to eliminate measles had stalled. Among other factors, he cited the lack of funding and large population movements in the Syrian conflict, which have hindered vaccinations. According to WHO statistics, the number of deaths from measles increased from an estimated 122,000 in 2012 to 145,700 in 2013, with the latter figure representing a 75% decline in mortality since 2000. The rate of decline is significantly below the target of a 95% reduction for the period 2000-2015. An inadequate rate of vaccination is considered the main reason for measles deaths.