Ukraine has again faced the threat of a large flash of measles - an extremely contagious viral disease that regularly returns waves every 5-6 years. However, this time statistics are striking: 472 cases of measles were recorded in the country only in the first three months of 2025, which is 20.5 times more than in the same period of 2024. At that time, the growth was 6.6 times compared to 2023.
Such data were published by the Public Health Center of Ukraine. The largest number of patients was found in the Transcarpathian, Chernivtsi and Odessa regions. It was in the Chernivtsi and Odessa regions that there were lethal cases among children 10 years and 9 months that had serious comorbidities.
Experts emphasize: measles is one of the most infectious diseases, and 9 of 10 unaccounted people who are in contact with the patient are almost guaranteed. The incubation period is 10-12 days, after which symptoms appear: fever, cough, conjunctivitis, mucous stains and characteristic rash.
Particularly vulnerable - unaccounted children, and the treatment of measles - only symptomatic. Vaccination remains the only effective means of prevention.
Ukraine uses a combined CCP vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella), which is included in the national vaccination calendar. Children receive the first dose at the age of 12 months and the second - at 6 years. Two doses create persistent immunity that reliably protects against the disease.
In the CGZ, parents are called to check the vaccination of their children and, if necessary, make up the missed vaccination. This will help to avoid not only the disease, but also severe complications, including pneumonia, hearing loss, encephalitis and death.
