Director of the Pediatric Department at Makarios Hospital in Nicosia, Dr. Avraam Elias, has told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that two children aged 17 and 22 months who contracted measles were discharged on Tuesday, while a 7-month-old infant remains hospitalised.
He expressed concern over a possible community spread and urged parents to vaccinate their children.
“In total we have had five cases. We are concerned because the measles virus is a virus that spreads very easily. Since there is a large portion of the population with no vaccination history, there is always risk that this virus will be transmitted to other people,” Dr. Elias stressed.
He said that all five children have no vaccination history. The one who is 7 months old, he noted, could not get the vaccine because of his age, explaining that the first dose of the vaccine is given at the age of 12 months and the second dose a few months later.
Dr Elias said that the very first case concerned an adult who traveled abroad and transmitted it to a
child, while two other children were subsequently infected.
He referred to the importance of vaccination saying that currently the percentage concerning the vaccination for measles stands at around 80%, which is considered low, noting that in order to achieve immunity, it must exceed 95%.
Children who have not been vaccinated and are 12 months old should get the vaccine as soon as possible, he concluded.
Measles cases record an increase in Europe causing concern. Cyprus Ministry of Health has said that it is monitoring the epidemiological data in Cyprus and Europe.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
