More Than 2,000 People Caught Measles In Ukraine Over 1 Week - Healthcare Ministry

Over 2,000 people have caught measles in Ukraine in the period from December 28, 2018, to January 3, the country's Healthcare Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

KIEV (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 09th January, 2019) Over 2,000 people have caught measles in Ukraine in the period from December 28, 2018, to January 3, the country's Healthcare Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

"From December 28, 2018, to January 3, 2019, already 2,305 people have caught measles in Ukraine. There is no specific treatment for measles. Vaccination is the only way to prevent measles-driven complications and deaths," the statement, posted on Facebook, read.

The ministry emphasized that measles could trigger serious complications, including pneumonia, ear infections, and encephalitis. It can also result in disability and death.

One child has died of measles complications since the beginning of the year in Ukraine, the ministry said, calling on parents to vaccinate their children in compliance with the immunizations schedule.

As of January 3, a total of 809,073 doses of measles, parotitis, and rubella vaccines are available in the country, the Healthcare Ministry specified.

On January 2, the Ukrainian Healthcare Ministry said that a total of 54,481 people had caught measles in Ukraine in 2018. with over 50 percent of them being children.

Measles is a highly contagious airborne virus.