Khurai Puthiba Leikai (Manipur), July 19 (ANI): Health authorities in Manipur state are alarmed after 30 children developed symptoms of German measles here.

The affected children, all in the age group of five to 12 years have shown symptoms of fever and rashes on their bodies. And, the incident has stirred the local health officials and the para-medicos in the state.

According to the Director of Health Services, the health department has taken immediate note of the outbreak and blood samples of the children have been sent to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases in New Delhi for further analysis.

“Things are on the war footing that this be contained and at any cost. We were informed at this outbreak immediately and we are on our toes,” said Dr. W Motilal Singh, Director of Health Services, Manipur.

Singh also informed that many immunisation programmes exist to counter diseases like mumps and measles. Rubella (MMR) vaccine is extensively used to contain the virus.

Doctors, presently attending to the affected children, believe that the virus can be contained if it is prevented from transmitting from one person to another.

Experts warn although the disease is not deadly, the complications caused by it could be serious.

German measles (Rubella) is an illness caused by a virus. It is an infection that primarily affects the skin and lymph nodes. The illness is less contagious than measles and chickenpox. (ANI)