Specialists confirm three new cases of measles in Moldova

Chisinau, 21 September /MOLDPRES/ - The National Agency for Public Health (ANSP) has confirmed three new cases of measles. Another one case of disease remains suspect and is under investigation.   

Contacted by MOLDPRES, the head of the information and communication service at ANSP, Olesea Croitor, said that two cases of measles had been registered in the southern Ceadar-Lunga district and another one – in the north-western Glodeni district.

„At present, patients are isolated and are under supervisions of physicians. Also, medical employees undertook more measures to promote health as to the raising the residents’ awareness about the risks of measles and importance of vaccination,” Croitor noted.

Since early 2018, 285 confirmed cases of measles have been recorded. A significant increase in the number of disease cases was registered in last August, with 239 confirmed cases recorded. At the same time, since the beginning of September, nine cases of this disease have been registered.   

The areas hit by measles since the beginning of last August are: Ceadar-Lunga – 150 cases, Vulcanesti – 34 cases, Ungheni – 20 cases, Taraclia – 12 cases, Cahul – 10 cases, Cantemir – 8 cases, Ocnita – 7 cases, Nisporeni – 4 cases, Glodeni – one case, Hancesti – one case, Chisinau – one case.    

Also, an orange code of risk of spread of measles is maintained all over Moldova.

In the last ten years, the immunization rate has been 95 per cent in Moldova and now, this rate stands at 87 per cent. There are hotbeds of measles in the neighbouring countries, Ukraine and Romania.

Physicians epidemiologists remind the residents that measles is an extremely contagious disease, which is spread quickly. The first symptom of the infection is the high fever, maintained during 1-7 days. Generalized eruptions appear 3-4 days after the fever. Pneumonia is the most frequent cause of death in measles.   

Measles can be prevented only through vaccination. In Moldova, vaccination is made with combined vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella (ROR), at the ages of one year, 6-7 years, 14-15 years. Vaccination is free of charge for all eligible persons.

(Reporter A. Ciobanu, editor L. Alcaza)