Moldova eliminates native measles, rubella, World Health Organization says

Chisinau, 23 April /MOLDPRES/ - Moldova is among those 33 countries which has successfully eliminated the native measles and rubella through immunization. The conclusion was drawn by the Regional Committee for European of the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to the press service of the Health, Labour and Social Protection Ministry, Moldova in the last years has made outstanding progress in terms of immunization. Through a high rate of vaccination, poliomyelitis has been eliminated and the status of country free of this infection was maintained.  

According to the competent ministry’s press service, cases of tetanus, diphtheria, rubella did not occur in 2011-2017. The number of cases mumps was cut from 1,943 to 78 and the one of viral hepatitis B - from 751 to 23 in 2017 against 2000. The implementation of the vaccine against the rotavirus infection favoured the reduction of the number of people sick from 782 cases in 2012 to 396 ones in 2017.    

The WHO Regional Office for Europe said that the last week of April had been declared European Week of Immunizations. Moldova, along with all the countries of the European region, joined this event and will carry out actions meant to enhance the degree of awareness as to the right and responsibility of each person to be protected against the diseases which can be prevented through vaccination.   

(Reporter A. Zara, editor A. Raileanu)