In Ukraine, all regions are fully supplied with quality and free measles vaccines. However, the rate of population chipping remains low, which poses a danger to the sanitary and epidemiological situation in Ukraine. Total in Ukraine for two years, about 115 thousand people fell ill with measles, of whom 39 died because of complications. And from December 2018 to August 9, 2019, 57107 people fell ill with measles, including 26910 adults and 30197 children, 18 people died from complications.

 Memo About Measles.

Measles is a highly contagious, acute infectious disease that most often affects children. But adults who were not sick as children also can catch measles. The disease is caused by a special virus.

The disease is characterized by high fever, cough, runny nose, eye inflammation, and a characteristic skin rash.

The source of infection is a sick person. The infection is transmitted through airborne droplets through direct contact (talking, coughing, sneezing) and, very dangerously, the sick person is contagious 4-5 days before the appearance of the rash on the skin, that is still in the incubation period.

The incubation period (period from the moment of infection to the appearance of disease symptoms) is 8 to 21 days.

Cirrh begins as a normal acute respiratory viral illness (cough, runny nose, fever, general malaise, etc.).

On the third to fourth day of the disease, spots appear on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity. The patient's general condition worsens: headache and muscle pain, lacrimation, photophobia occur.

On the fourth to fifth day of the disease, a rash appears, first on the scalp and face. The next day the rash spreads to the torso, a day later - to the arms and legs. During the appearance of the rash, the person's condition worsens.

If there were no complications, on the fourth day from the beginning of the rash, there comes improvement and gradual healing.

The patient needs to be monitored by a doctor at all times to prevent complications (sometimes very severe) and provide timely medical care.

The most common complications of measles are bronchitis, pneumonia (pneumonia of the lungs), encephalitis, meningitis (inflammation of the brain and its membranes), ear inflammation and others. Severe complications can lead to disability or death.

There is no specific treatment for measles.

The only effective way to prevent measles is to vaccinate yourself with a special measles vaccine!

State Institution "Center for Preventive Medicine of the Ministry of Internal Affairs"