Dakshina Kannada reports rise in measles cases, 67 test positive

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Nov 5, 2026: Measles cases are on the rise across India amid an increase in infections in neighbouring Bangladesh. Dakshina Kannada district has also witnessed a rise in cases this year compared to previous years, health officials and doctors have said.

Of the nearly 250 samples tested in Dakshina Kannada so far this year, 67 have returned positive. The district had recorded around 45 cases last year.

Doctors attribute the rise in infections partly to incomplete vaccination coverage. Some children may have missed their scheduled vaccinations during the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving them vulnerable to the infection. Doctors have also reported measles cases among young adults aged between 18 and 20.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease caused by the measles virus and primarily affects children.

Senior paediatrician Dr Shantaram Baliga said children should receive two doses of the measles vaccine, at nine months and 15 months of age. Missing even one dose can increase the risk of infection.

District Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Officer Dr Rajesh said measles cases had increased in Bangladesh and were also showing an upward trend in India. Dakshina Kannada had reported more cases this year than in the previous year, he added.

Paediatrician Dr Muralikeshav also confirmed the increase in measles infections. He said other infectious diseases, including hand, foot and mouth disease and chickenpox, were also being reported more frequently.

Serious complications possible

Although most patients recover from measles, doctors warn that the infection can lead to serious complications in some cases. These include pneumonia, severe diarrhoea, dehydration, eye-related problems and inflammation of the brain.

Children below five years of age, those suffering from malnutrition and individuals with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to severe complications.

There is no specific antiviral medicine to cure measles. Treatment primarily involves managing symptoms and preventing complications.

Symptoms and spread

Measles symptoms generally appear 10 to 14 days after infection. Common signs include fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, and sensitivity to light. Small white spots may also develop inside the cheeks.

The characteristic skin rash usually begins on the face or along the hairline before spreading to the neck, chest, arms and legs.

The infection spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can remain suspended in the air of an enclosed space for some time, even after the infected person has left. Unvaccinated individuals are at greater risk of contracting the disease.

An infected person can transmit the virus from four days before the appearance of the rash until four days after it develops.

District Health Officer Dr H.R. Thimmaiah stressed the importance of ensuring that children receive the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine without missing either dose. Even if vaccinated children contract the infection, their recovery is generally easier, while those who have not received the vaccine face a higher risk of infection and complications, he said.