kochi a team formed by indian academy of pediatricskerala will be visiting all the schools in malappuram district offering health talks to the ptas about vaccinepreventable diseases and immunization malappuram is reporting a high number of measles cases in the state this decision was taken after the iap president and secretary had a meeting with the malappuram district collector district medical officer and other district health authorities the team has already visited two schools in the district and talked about the vaccinepreventable diseases and immunization to the school ptas they also educated school officials on what needs to be done if any student reports with fever and rashes measles is a viral infection that mainly affects young children and is mostly seen in the age group between six months and three years however the disease affects teenagers and adults as well nearly 140 cases of measles have been reported in the district the malappuram district administration has decided to vaccinate children who have not taken the measles vaccine before december 5 and plans to take strict legal action against those who spread wrong information about the vaccine we have promised to conduct maximum academic activities including immunization training for health staff and immunization awareness classes for the public all possible support will be provided to improve surveillance as well said iap president dr jose o they reiterated their demand to make immunization cards compulsory when joining school there is an unimmunized population in the district despite maximum immunization activities here the presence and activities of the antivaccine lobby in the district is an important issue that needs to be addressed a meeting with various religious leaders and health officials will be beneficial to improve immunization said dr jose