ARCHIVED - Cases of chickenpox and measles fall sharply in Valencia region due to Covid measures

Huge drop in the number of infectious diseases in classrooms across the region's three provinces, including Alicante.

Measures to combat the spread of Covid, such as mask wearing, social distancing and hand sanitising, have led to a marked reduction in the number of cases of chickenpox, measles, and mumps amongst under 16-year-olds in the Valencia region.

According to data from the Ministry of Health, infections were on the decline during lockdown, but have not altered despite a return to classrooms, remaining at "residual levels", with experts claiming this is due to Covid measures imposed in schools.

"Masks, hydroalcoholic gel, limitations in terms of contact and extra ventilation in classrooms have resulted in an important reduction in the transmission of these and other notifiable diseases," according to the Public Health department.

There have been eight reported case of mumps during this academic year, compared to 26 in 2018/2019, with no cases of measles and rubella compared to seven and zero, three years ago.

But more significant is the drop in cases of chickenpox, which are down 88 per cent on the same period in 2018/2019. There have been 671 diagnoses of chickenpox so far this year, down from 5,503.

Most of these cases (469) were in the six to 12-year age group; followed by 100 diagnoses in children aged three to five; 76 in toddlers under the age of two; and 26 in teenagers aged 13 to 16.

Some schools are also reporting that outbreaks of head lice have practically disappeared as a direct result of social distancing.

IMAGE: GVA