The COVID-19 marked a turning point for almost all aspects of life. One of them: Health. Since then, people take care of more and words such as vaccines or insulation were incorporated into the usual vocabulary. Since 2020, in fact, The alerts are lit in front of any outbreak or new disease that remembers the toughest days of the pandemic.
“We are attentive to any virus that could have an impact on public health. We have the factor of climate change very present, which has made forgotten diseases proliferate or that increase its incidence. Surveillance is always active, ”he says Patricia CerdaChief (s) of epidemiology of the Ministry of Health.
And there are currently several outbreaks -viruses or bacteria -especially in the northern hemisphere of the planet, of rare diseases that have already turned on some alarms in Chile.
In that context, Cerda says that today they are particularly attentive to diseases such as avian influenza, meningitis and measles.
To the proliferation of cases, Cerda adds another worrying factor: “For various reasons, viruses have become more resistant and they manage to persist for a longer time in the environments where people develop. ”
One of them is the measlesa disease considered contagious and mortal. With high fever, cough and a characteristic eruption, it can lead to serious complications such as encephalitis and pneumonia. Yes indeed, According to the Minsal, in Chile it has eradicated since 1992, But the presence of outbreaks in different countries of the region -Canadá, the United States, Mexico and Argentina- makes the risk of cases of cases persist.
According to the centers for the control and prevention of diseases in the United States (CDC), In that country, 935 measles cases have been confirmed in 2025, already exceeding the 285 registered throughout the previous year and marking a worrying rebound of the disease. There have already been three deaths.
Before these outbreaks, the head (s) of Epidemiology of the Minsal ensures that various measures have been taken: “Our country issued an epidemiological alert to the entire national surveillance network to be alert and investigate the cases in a timely manner.”
An explanation for these outbreaks is the increase of people who decide not to vaccinate, the most effective way to combat the disease.
Lorena TapiaInfectologist of the U. Clinic, he details that “patients who have been vaccinated against the measles virus will not be infected, or, if they infect or make contact with the virus they will not make the disease, then they will not be contagious.”
In Chile, the mandatory vaccination scheme considers the administration of dose against measles, rubella and clmp. The first is at 12 months of life, and the second, at 36.
-Besides, Currently people born between 1971 and 1981 that do not have a valid vaccination record – specifically doses administered after the 12 months of life – DEben start your scheme with two doses or complete the scheme if you are incomplete.
Aviar flu
The aviar flu It is a Panzootia, That is, an outbreak of animal infectious disease that spreads on a large scale, even globally. In simple words, it is the equivalent of pandemic in humans, but in animals.
And although it began as a disease that attacks only birds, it quickly jumped to other species, to humans. The latter quickly turned on the alarms.
There is currently an important outbreak in the US that It already resulted in six human infections And the first death since there is registration in that country, a disturbing milestone in the history of public health.
Although Chile is free of this virus since 2023 -there was a case in a human, who, despite having been serious, was given high weeks later -the authorities continue to closely monitor the situation.
José Guajardo ReyesNational Director of the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG), details that “a permanent work table is maintained with the Minsal, with a system and focal points defined for risk communication and coordination in the case approach.”
In addition, he affirms that vaccination has been reinforced: “In turn, it works with preventive strategies, where it has been managed, for examplevaccination against seasonal influenza of the different populations defined as risk for their work in contact with birds”.
Meningitis
María Teresa Valenzueladirector of the Upsuss Observatory of the USS, warns that “LMeningitis is a serious and potentially deadly disease. Virtually all bacterial agents that cause it have lethality rates of more than 20%, and among those who manage to survive, about 20%, remain with sequelae. ”
Against the increase in this disease during this winter season, The health portfolio issued a health alert on May 6. “It is considered low endemic in the country, with a marked seasonality in the cold months and characterized by its high lethality,” says the document.
According to the most current report, Until the last week, 19 cases have been confirmed, which already represents an increase with respect to the same period of the previous year. In addition, five deaths have been reported, which represents a lethality of 26%.
In Chile, the Meningococococcol B vaccine is the main measure of prevention and was incorporated into the National Immunization Program for all infants born from May 1, 2023, who must start their primary scheme with two doses since they turn two months of age, that is, on July 1, 2023. In addition, since November 1, 202, children who have received both doses will be 18 months.
