Over 100 cases of measles confirmed since early August in Moldova

15:50 | 22.08.2018 Category: Social

Chisinau, 22 August /MOLDPRES/ – Over a hundred cases of measles have been confirmed since the beginning of August. Also, there are 68 suspected cases under investigation.

According to the National Agency for Public Healthcare (ANSP), there are recorded suspicious and confirmed cases in Ceadar – Lunga, Vulcanesti, Taraclia, Cahul, Ungheni, Hancesti and Cantemir districts.

Currently, the patients are isolated and under supervision of doctors. Also, health workers have taken healthcare promotion measures to raise awareness of measles risks and importance of vaccination.

The authorities announced earlier this week the Orange Code of measles throughout Moldova, and by the start of the new school year all children are to be vaccinated. Likewise, students which are not vaccinated will not be admitted to educational institutions.

Within first seven months of 2018, there were found 37 cases of measles. Similarly, the number of cases increased significantly in August. Within recent ten years, in Moldova, the immunisation rate was 95 per cent, and now it is up to 87 per cent. The measles outbreaks exist in neighbouring Ukraine and Romania too.

The epidemiologists remind the population that measles is a highly contagious disease and is spreading rapidly. In unvaccinated communities, a sick child can infect another 18 children. The disease is transmitted from one person to another throughout air with drops following sneezing, coughing and contact with infected person. The first sign of infection is high fever, which lasts for 01 – 07 days. The generalised eruptions occur 03 – 04 days after the onset of fever. The pneumonia is the most common cause of death in measles.

The measles can be only prevented by vaccination. In Moldova, the vaccinations are carried out with combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (ROR) at 01 year, 06 – 07 years old, and 14 – 15 years old. The vaccination is free for all eligible persons.

(Reporter A. Ciobanu, editor M. Jantovan)

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