In Ukraine, since the beginning of 2025, measles incidence has increased more than 11 times compared to the same period last year. This was announced by the Deputy Director General of the Center for Public Health Alexei Danylenko.
According to him, in the six months of this year, 1196 cases were registered. Last year, over the same period, the number of patients was ten times smaller. Experts call the current dynamics rapid but controlled and expected.
The main causes of this growth are high virus contagion, cyclical outbreaks and increased incidence in neighboring countries, including Romania, Hungary and Moldova.
Cyrus is a dangerous disease because of its complications. The most common of these are inflammation of the lungs, inflammation of the brain, inflammation of the ear, but other organs are also possible. At an early stage, measles may resemble a cold: temperature, runny nose, redness of the eyes. Later, there are characteristic white spots on the mucous cheeks and a rash that spreads from the head.
Doctors emphasize the importance of timely medical care even at the first symptoms. The disease begins to be transmitted even before the rash, so there is a risk of widespread infection.
Vaccination remains the most effective way of prevention. Ukraine uses a comprehensive vaccine that protects not only from measles but also from mumps and rubella. Two doses are required to form immunity. According to Danilenko, in 2024 the level of coverage of children with vaccination was approximately 90 percent. This year, 40 percent has been reached for the first five months, and by the end of the year it is planned to reach a similar level.
In the fall, the incidence can increase in the fall by returning children to schools and increasing contacts in teams.
