Imported Measles Case Recorded in Armenia

The Ministry of Health reports that on December 24, a laboratory-confirmed imported case of measles has been registered in Armenia. The patient arrived from Russia already exhibiting pronounced clinical symptoms. It is noted that measles is an acute viral, highly contagious disease characterized by pronounced intoxication symptoms, catarrhal phenomena, and a rash.

The infection is transmitted through airborne droplets. Measles is distinguished from other controllable infections by its high infectivity: one infected person can spread it to up to 18 contacts. Complications of measles develop concurrently with the main symptoms of the disease (intoxication, catarrhal phenomena, rash), reaching peak expression during the height of the illness and gradually weakening thereafter.

In children, the most common complications of measles are pneumonia. Neurological complications are characteristic of older age groups, progressing severely and resulting in high mortality rates (up to 25%). Residual phenomena manifest as paresis, memory, and intellectual impairments, as well as epileptic seizures.

Severe complications of measles include encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), hepatitis, pancreatitis, hemorrhages, thrombocytopenic purpura, myocarditis, and keratitis.

One of the most severe complications leading to death is subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a slowly progressive form of measles encephalitis that is more common in children who contracted measles before the age of 2 and leads to death a few months later. To prevent measles outbreaks, it is essential to ensure high vaccination coverage and collective immunity levels.

Individuals who have received at least two doses of the vaccine develop 97-98% immunity, which is maintained for life. If vaccination rates decline, measles outbreaks can erupt rapidly. A vivid example of this is Ukraine, where 50,000 cases of measles were reported in 2018, leading to 16 deaths.

Remember, vaccination is the only preventive measure to remain free from the disease.