In the first six months of 2025, 1,196 cases of measles were recorded in Ukraine, which is 11 times more than in the same period last year. This was announced by Oleksiy Danylenko, Deputy Director General of the Center for Public Health, on the air of Suspilny.
Measles is a highly contagious disease: one sick person can infect a large number of people. Measles incidence is cyclical, with new outbreaks every 5–6 years due to the accumulation of children without immunity.
The largest number of cases occurred in the border regions: Chernivtsi, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Odesa, and Vinnytsia. This is partly due to the epidemic in neighboring countries - Romania, Hungary, and Moldova.
The best protection against the disease is vaccination. Currently, only 83.4% of children in Ukraine have received the second dose of the MMR vaccine, although at least 95% are required for herd immunity. Vaccination is provided for by the National Immunization Calendar: the first dose is administered at 12 months, the second at six years.
Symptoms of measles begin with fever, cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis, followed by a characteristic rash that spreads from the head to the trunk and limbs. Measles can cause complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and otitis media.
An infected person is contagious 3–4 days before the rash appears, so at the first symptoms you should immediately consult a doctor. Self-medication for measles can lead to complications and is dangerous to your health.
