The National Public Health Agency (NPHA) urges the parents to vaccinate their children against measles as this is a highly contagious viral infection that can lead to serious complications, IPN reports.

In a press release, the Agency noted that given the low vaccination coverage at national level (below 90% for MMR vaccination at the age of 1 year), there is a risk that measles and other diseases that can be prevented by vaccination will spread.

As many as 134 confirmed cases of measles have been registered in the Republic of Moldova so far this year. The cases were reported in people aged between 0.5 months and 55 years. Most of them were confirmed in the municipality of Chisinau – 57 cases.

In the hotbed registered in Sângerei district, a total of 50 cases of measles were confirmed, in children aged between 2 and 19 years, from multiple families. None of them have been vaccinated against measles.

There is no specific treatment for measles, but the disease can be prevented by vaccination. The vaccine is administered free of charge, at the ages of 12 months, 6-7 years and 15-16 years. If the children weren’t vaccinated at the appropriate ages, the family doctor will propose an individual vaccination schedule.