The infection risk for a healthy person who comes in contact with a person infected with measles is of 95%-98%. One person in 1,000 infected with measles dies. The disease is dangerous as there is no specific, but only symptomatic treatment and one person in three develop complications. The risk of transmitting the virus is the biggest four days before and four days after the cutaneous eruption. The information was presented by Aliona Serbulenko, secretary of state at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection, in hearings staged by the specialized parliamentary commission. She said the authorities continue to be vigilant and maintain the yellow intervention code, IPN reports.
Children are more vulnerable to the disease. 35% of the patients who contracted the disease are aged between 5 and 9, while 27.61% are aged between 1 and 4. The first measles vaccine is administered at the age of 12 months, the second at the age of 7 years and the third at 14-15 years. The immunization coverage rate in Moldova for all the three stages is at over 97%.
A number of 234 cases of measles were confirmed this August. In September, there were confirmed 32 cases, in October – nine cases, while during the first 16 days of this month - 14 cases already, all in Soroca district. Of all the confirmed cases, over 84% involved unvaccinated children. Approximately 130 children were vaccinated only one time, 8-9 years ago. This wasn’t enough to boost the immune system. According to Aliona Serbulenko, after summer the parents mobilized and after unvaccinated children weren’t admitted to education institutions these decided to get their children vaccinated.
Given the reports that four cases of diphtheria were confirmed in Ukraine, the official said it was suggested buying an anti-diphtheria serum as the disease can be prevented only by this. “If we have cases of poliomyelitis, we will also have cases of death and disability as we do not have specific treatment. As to diphtheria, the Common Center for Purchases in Healthcare is looking for agents that produce such vaccines,” stated Aliona Serbulenko.
