Tiraspol, 14 August. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. The number of measles patients in Moldova and Ukraine continues to increase while the epidemiological situation in Pridnestrovie remains healthy.
According to the latest data of the National Agency of Public Health of the Republic of Moldova, 40 persons have already been either confirmed as having measles or are suspected to have caught it. However, only three children from the total number were vaccinated.
In Ukraine, the measles epidemic has not subsided for more than six months. According to the country's health ministry, 1,345 people have fallen ill over the past week, 822 of whom are children. In total, since the beginning of the year, the number of measles patients has exceeded 20,000, with 11 people having died from complications.
As the Republican Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology has told Novosti Pridnestrovya, there was only one confirmed case in Dnestrovsk in early July.
Epidemiologists remind that measles is a fairly common and contagious infectious disease. Most often it affects children, but adults are no exception. Measles is an airborne disease. It is difficult to recognize the disease immediately because its symptoms are similar to a common cold: high fever, runny nose, inflamed eyes, coughing. A red, flat rash which usually starts on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body typically begins three to five days after the start of symptoms.
The measles vaccine is effective at preventing the disease. The vaccine is given to one-year-old babies and children at the age of 7 and 15 years. Vaccination can be administered to adults under 35 years old or those who have not previously been vaccinated but are going to countries with measles outbreaks. Vaccination is free in all Pridnestrovian polyclinics.
At the first signs of the disease, the patient should immediately consult a doctor. There is no specific antiviral treatment if measles develops. The medications are generally aimed at treating its symptoms.
