BULGARIAN HEALTH AUTHORITIES TAKE PREVENTION MEASURES TO PROTECT AGAINST SPREAD OF MEASLES

Bulgaria’s Ministry of Health has sent guidelines to the regional health inspection for taking prevention measures to protect the population aganist the spread of measles in the country, the press office of the ministry said on 14th of May. The measures are related to the information for continuing spread of the epidemic of measles in neighbouring Romania.

At the moment, there is no threat from spread of measles in Bulgaria, Ministry of Health said.

At present, health authorities in Romania have reported 3,196 cases of the disease, including 17 victims. Italy also reported a large number of cases of measles - 728 people, and 569 people in the UK.

The measles is a highly contagious disease and is characterized by general toxicity, irritation of the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, skin rash and complicated breathing. The infection is mainly transmitted from person to person by large respiratory droplets but can also spread by the airborne route as aerosolized droplet nuclei.

All GPs should review the vaccination status of their patients aged 13 months to 18 years and subject immunization against measles. The non-immunized persons should be covered with one dose of combined measles, mumps and rubella.

The attention of all doctors working in hospitals and outpatient care must be focused on early detection of signs of measles and quick actions for isolation, diagnosis and treatment.

According to the Bulgarian immunization calendar, the prevention of the disease is carried out through a combined Measles - Rubella - Mumps vaccine, which is obligatory. To build full immunity, children should be immunized with two doses - the first at the 13 months of age and a booster at 12 years.

source: BTA