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Armenian healthcare authorities report significant decrease in measles cases
2 minute read
Gayane Gaboyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. With only three measles cases recorded in October, the epidemiological situation concerning the disease has been highly stable in the recent months, a senior healthcare official has said.
Svetlana Grigoryan, the Director of the Department of Immunology and Epidemiology of Manageable Infectious Diseases at the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told Armenpress that all three cases were imported cases and epidemiologically are not linked with the country’s measles situation.
“I have to say that by improving the epidemiological situation, Armenia is no longer included in the list of ten European countries with the highest measles indicators in 2023. However, the ongoing actions must be continuous in order not to have a worsening situation as a result of imported cases,” Grigoryan said.
Lauding the results, the healthcare expert nevertheless called for maintaining vigilance because measles is a problem all over the world since the 2022 outbreak.
“Armenia was also impacted by this outbreak and we’ve been having measles cases since February 2023. Despite the stable situation we should continue all preventive measures with the same pace. Vaccines are of crucial importance in prevention and stabilization of the situation,” Grigoryan said.
The measles vaccine (MMR) is included in the national immunization calendar.
Children should get two doses of the MMR vaccine, starting with the first dose at 12 to 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age. The two doses give a lifetime protection against measles.
Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1205803?fbclid=IwY2xjawGyPXtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHcoFgO4CI76qMMXdbWwDjvC41nNiBGTmXanmOPYzckZYhkbFNAp0IpOelQ_aem_IoPb5RxCIozCHWy011P2Vw