Measles in Ukraine (Update)
01 Feb 2012
The Sanitary-Epidemiological Service (SES) has registered 1952 cases of suspected measles in Ukraine between 1-25 Jan 2012. During that time the following regions reported suspected cases: Lviv (967), Ivano-Frankivsk (534), Rivne (124), Carpathian (103), Ternopil (54) and Volyn (40). In Kiev, between 1-25 Jan 2012, there were 12 cases. In other administrative territories of Ukraine only sporadic cases of suspected measles (totalling 118) have been registered since the beginning of 2012.
In 2011, throughout the whole of Ukraine a total of 1513 suspected cases of measles were registered. In the Lviv region in mid-December 2011 a single measles fatality was recorded, the first in the region during the past 5 years. The current outbreak is being attributed to the significantly increased measles morbidity throughout Europe in general.
Advice for Travellers
It should be confirmed that children have received their recommended doses of MMR at 12-15 months of age and again pre-school around 3 years 6 months, while unimmunised adults who have not had the disease themselves may consider vaccination if thought to be at risk. Two doses of MMR vaccine are required to give adequate protection.