Specialists confirm nine new cases of measles in Moldova

Chisinau, 4 December /MOLDPRES/ - Specialists of the National Agency for Public Health (ANSP) have confirmed nine new cases of measles in the northern Soroca district in the last ten days.  

Contacted by MOLDPRES, the head of the ANSP information and communication service, Olesea Croitor, has said that all patients were relatives or contacted with people who had been earlier sick with this disease.   

Since early 2018, 335 confirmed cases of measles have been recorded. A significant increase in the number of cases of disease was registered in last August, with 239 confirmed cases recorded. At the same time, in October 2018, nine cases of disease were registered.

The areas hit by measles since 1 August till present are: Ceadar-Lunga – 164 cases, Vulcanesti – 35 cases, Drochia – 21, Soroca – 30, Ungheni- 20, Chisinau – 16, Taraclia – 12, Cahul and Cantemir – 10 cases each, Ocnita – 7 cases, Nisporeni – 4 cases, Glodeni – 3 cases, Hancesti, Rascani and Tiraspol – one case in each city.    

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

In the last ten years, the immunization rate stood at 95 per cent in Moldova and now it is of 87 per cent. There are hotbeds of measles also in Ukraine and Romania.

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

Measles can only be prevented by vaccination. In Moldova, vaccination is carried out with measles, mumps and rubella (ROR) combined vaccine at one year, 6 – 7 years and 14 – 15 years of age. Vaccination is free for all eligible persons.