Ukraine: Measles outbreak in Bukovina
The Public Health Center (PHC) of Ukraine reports 29 cases of measles were recorded in November-December of this year in the Chernivtsi region.
All persons diagnosed with measles were hospitalized and received or continue to receive the necessary amount of medical care. Medical observation has been established for contact persons. As of December 17, seven more patients are in the infectious disease department. Thanks to the vigilance and timely actions of the employees of the Chernivtsi Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the epidemic situation in the region has been brought under control.
Over the past year, the incidence of measles in Ukraine has increased sixfold: as of December 1, 333 cases of the disease were registered, compared to 55 cases during the same period last year.
During the previous measles outbreak in Ukraine in 2017–2019, 25 children and 16 adults died. Currently, the epidemic situation in Ukraine remains under control, but the number of measles cases may increase, as vaccination coverage among children is insufficient to form herd immunity.
Symptoms of measles appear gradually:
1–2 days — spots on the mucous membrane of the cheeks against the canines;
2–3 days — a profuse rash of various sizes and shapes all over the body, starting from the head and neck, and then spreading to other parts of the body; after the rash subsides after 5–6 days, pigment spots remain on the skin, the skin peels off;
All this time, the fever persists, the runny nose and cough worsen, and the patient's general condition worsens.
Complications of measles
Measles is dangerous because of the complications it can cause, especially in children under 5 years old.
The most dangerous complications include:
inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia);
inflammation of the middle ear (otitis);
inflammation of the brain (encephalitis);
death.
Measles in pregnant women
In a pregnant woman, measles can cause premature birth, spontaneous abortion (miscarriage), or fetal death. Even if this does not happen, infection in the first trimester can have other harmful effects on the baby: deafness, heart defects, and other diseases. If a pregnant woman becomes ill on the eve of childbirth, the baby may be born with signs of measles. There is a high mortality rate in newborns from measles pneumonia.
How to protect yourself from measles
There is no specific treatment for measles. The safest and most reliable way to prevent measles is vaccination. Vaccination is routinely given to children twice: at 1 year and 6 years of age according to the National Immunization Schedule ; or according to epidemic indications at any age in case of contact with a measles patient.
To get vaccinated against measles according to epidemiological indications or to vaccinate your child as planned, contact your family doctor, therapist, or the nearest healthcare facility.