Specialists confirm nine new cases of measles in Moldova

Chisinau, 3 November /MOLDPRES/ - The National Agency for Public Health (ANSP) has confirmed nine new cases of measles. Another six cases remain to be suspect and are under investigation.   

Contacted by MOLDPRES, the head of the ANSP information and communication service, Olesea Croitor, has said that three cases of measles were registered in Chisinau and seven ones – in the northern Soroca district.  

As many as 312 confirmed cases of measles have been recorded since early 2018. A significant increase in the number of measles cases was registered in last August, with 239 cases confirmed. At the same time, ten cases of this disease have been recorded since early October 2018.   

The areas hit by measles since early last August are: Ceadar-Lunga – 164 cases, Vulcanesti – 35 cases, Drochia – 21 cases, Ungheni – 20 cases, Chisinau - 16 cases, Taraclia – 12 cases, Cahul – 10 cases, Cantemir – 10 cases, Ocnita – seven cases, Nisporeni – four cases, Soroca – seven cases, Glodeni – three cases, Hancesti, Rascani and Tiraspol - one case each.    

Also, a yellow code of risk of measles’ spread is maintained all over Moldova.

In the last ten years, the immunization rate has stood at 95 per cent and now it is up to 87 per cent. There are also measles hotbeds in the neighbour countries, Ukraine and Romania.

Physicians epidemiologists remind to residents that measles is an extremely contagious disease and is spread quickly. The first symptom of the infection is high fever, which is maintained 1-7 days. Generalized eruptions appear 3-4 days after the beginning of the fever. Pneumonia is the most often 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 and 14-15 years. The vaccination is free of charge for all eligible persons.

(Reporter A. Zara, editor A. Raileanu)