Bishkek, Oct. 1, 2018. / Kabar /. The situation with measles in Kyrgyzstan is stable, head doctor of the Republican Clinical Infectious Disease Hospital Gulzhigit Aliev told Kabar Agency.
"Currently, 30 patients of different ages are hospitalized with measles in Kyrgyzstan, but mostly children of small age who have not yet been vaccinated against measles. An outbreak of measles is occurring in neighboring countries and abroad. But in our country so far the situation is stable," said Aliev.
According to the Ministry of Health, the global epidemiological situation of measles incidence in the WHO European Region in 2017 as compared to 2016 indicates a 4-fold increase in the incidence of measles, 21 315 cases. In 2018 the outbreak of measles continues in Europe. In the first half of the year, the number of infected people exceeded 41 thousand. This figure was 2 times higher than the number of measles cases in 2017.
The direct impact of the global epidemiological situation resulted in the import and further distribution of measles throughout Kyrgyzstan. In the Kyrgyz Republic, from January to this date in 2018, 429 cases of measles have been registered. The largest number of patients were registered in Bishkek - 276 cases, and 107 cases in Chui oblast.
Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by the measles virus. Symptoms usually develop 10–12 days after exposure to an infected person and last 7–10 days. Initial symptoms typically include fever, often greater than 40 °C (104.0 °F), cough, runny nose, and inflamed eyes. Small white spots known as Koplik's spots may form inside the mouth two or three days after the start of symptoms. A red, flat rash which usually starts on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body typically begins three to five days after the start of symptoms. Complications occur in about 30% of cases and may include diarrhea, blindness, inflammation of the brain, and pneumonia, among others.
Measles is an airborne disease which spreads easily through the coughs and sneezes of infected people. It may also be spread through contact with saliva or nasal secretions. People are infectious to others from four days before to four days after the start of the rash.
The Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic through the UNICEF purchases a measles and rubella vaccine that will be used to vaccinate the contact. According to the Decree of the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic No. 588 dated July 17, 2018 "Operational plan for urgent measures for the localization of measles", a filter is organized at the entrance to the health care organizations for early isolation of patients with temperature and rash. In the health organizations, surveillance for measles is strengthened, all suspicious persons are screened for measles, vaccination status is clarified and emergency vaccination is carried out if necessary for contacts, house visits for early detection of suspected measles patients, revision of vaccination documentation, explanatory work with the population with religious conviction are conducted.
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