After two cases of measles were recently confirmed in Moldova, the National Agency for Public Health (ANSP) warns the public that the disease is extremely contagious and unvaccinated children risk developing serious complications, such as laryngitis, pneumonia and meningitis.

ANSP deputy director Veaceaslav Guțu told IPN that the first case involved a Soroca child who had just returned from Russia, after which the disease was contracted by another child. Neither of them had been vaccinated against measles. The children have already been discharged with instructions to avoid contacts.

The measles vaccination rate among children aged 1 year or older is 84.2%, while the WHO recommendation is minimum 95%. A single dose of the vaccine provides 97% disease prevention. The risk of the infection spreading is much higher in non-vaccinated communities.

“We recommend all families who have unvaccinated children to weigh the importance of vaccination very carefully. They should get in touch with their family doctors and discuss the vaccination process, as they could help them make a decision to vaccinate their children. If the parents have unvaccinated children, we definitely recommend them to take all measures to protect the children, because the risk of the disease spreading is quite high”, said Veaceaslav Guțu.

Measles is manifested by high fever, inflamed eyes, photophobia, lacrimation, nasal discharge, dry cough, and on the third or fourth day of the disease it is associated with red spots on the skin, which initially appear in the region of the face and neck, and then spread over the whole body.

In some educational institutions, parents were asked to present certificates from the family doctor regarding the vaccines administered to the children. Representatives for the Ministry of Education and Research told IPN that an order to this effect has not been issued, but educational institutions may request such information.