The raging cases of measles in Georgia have reached Armenia. We have already three cases of brought in measles, which were approved by laboratory examination. Two of them are children aged 3 and 5, which are hosted in Armenia from Georgia, and one person is a 28 years old resident of Armenia, who got measles as a result of contact with the Odessa workshop participant from Georgia. The disease is manifested in Armenia, – said the director of Immune Prevention National Program of the Ministry of Health Gayane Sahakyan in a conversation with Aravot.am. According to Ms. Sahakian, the same seminar was attended by seven Armenians, who did not appear to have symptoms of measles, nor the disease was confirmed by laboratory tests. Gayane Sahakyan assured that we do not have local dissemination. “If 21 days have passed from brought in cases and there is no dissemination among the population of Armenia, so there is no local dissemination.” At this time anti-epidemic measurements are carried out at the bordering point of Armenia. Gayane Sahakyan said that if a person is infected with the measles, the symptoms can not be immediately identified, – “First, we asked people about the symptoms, then we recommend that if there is a weakness, rash or other signs, promptly apply to local medical institutions.” If a person is vaccinated once or already ill with measles, he/she, according to Ms. Sahakyan, already has a strong immunity against this disease. Measles is infected by air and how the expert says it is 99 percent infections, especially if the person has no immunity. To our question whether people wish to travel to Georgia get vaccinated, G. Sahakyan said that 30 year-olds are enrolled in mass vaccination and are vaccinated, but recently it was decided by the order of the Minister of Health that everyone who wish can be vaccinated at the local polyclinics. But, so far, how many people have voluntarily applied to measles vaccinations for going to Georgia or for prophylaxis, Ms. Sahakyan said that the data will be summarized at the end of the month.
Lusine BUDAGHYAN
