Yellow Code of risk of measles' spread cancelled in Moldova

Chisinau, 13 February /MOLDPRES/ - The authorities have cancelled the yellow code concerning the risk of the spread of measles. The decision was taken at a today’s meeting of the Commission of Emergency Situations at the Health, Labour and Social Protection Ministry, with the participation of specialists of the National Agency for Public Health and the heads of the medical and sanitary institutions.    

The decision was taken after a dynamic of decrease of the number of measles cases had been registered. It is about four cases in December 2018, two cases in last January, one confirmed case and one case under investigation in February. At the same time, the authorities informed that the level of vaccination in Moldova had increased to 95 per cent. In this context, the Commission ruled to cancel the yellow code of measles nationally and to switch to the urgent supervision of this infection in routine regime, on condition that the level of vaccination is maintained in Moldova.

After three years of lack of measles cases (2015-2017), in 2018, 340 cases of this diseases were recorded in Moldova. Fifteen out of 44 administrative territories of Moldova were hit by measles, with most cases registered in the districts of Ceadir-Lunga – 164, Vulcanesti and Soroca 35 in each, Drochia – 21, Ungheni – 20 and Chisinau – 19.    

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 fever 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.