The epidemic was declared in December 2023, following the alarming increase in measles cases, as well as the high number of hospitalizations in pediatric wards. At that time, there were almost 2,000 cases nationwide, in 29 counties.
Mureș County has the most cases of measles. PHOTO: Archive
The cessation of the measles epidemic was made by an order of the Minister of Health (no. 4,322/2024), published on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, in the Official Gazette.
According to the National Institute of Public Health (INSP), 457 new cases of infection and no deaths were reported last week (August 19-25). The total number of cases reached 23,690 on August 25 (from January 1, 2023, the start of the surveillance period), with 21 deaths also reported.
The highest incidence of measles cases is in the counties of Brașov (382.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), Alba (301.9) and Călărași (274.5). At the opposite pole, the lowest incidences were recorded in Vaslui (11.2/100,000 inhabitants), Mehedinți (12.5 cases, 5.7/100,000) and Bihor (20.6/100,000).
The Ministry of Health declared a measles epidemic in Romania in December, following the worrying increase in the number of cases. “Given the worrying increase in measles cases, as well as the large number of hospitalizations in the pediatric and infectious disease wards of infected children, the Ministry of Health has declared a nationwide measles epidemic, to make it possible to vaccinate children between the ages of 9 and 11 months, as well as the recovery of those unvaccinated or with an incomplete vaccination schedule“, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health.
What is measles and how does it manifest itself?
According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), measles is an acute, highly contagious viral disease. Infectivity is close to 100% in susceptible individuals and in the pre-vaccine era measles would affect nearly every individual during childhood.
Immunization has dramatically reduced the incidence of measles in Europe, but despite high overall immunization coverage, measles continues to cause frequent outbreaks. Measles remains one of the leading causes of death among children globally.
The disease is easily spread by coughing, sneezing or touching contaminated surfaces. Infected people are contagious for a few days before symptoms appear. The disease begins with a mild to moderate fever, often accompanied by a persistent cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes, sore throat, and the appearance of Koplik’s spots (small white spots that appear in the mouth).
Symptoms can last 2-3 days and are followed by a rash of red spots on the skin. They appear on the face and then spread to the arms and trunk, then to the thighs and legs. At the same time, the fever rises sharply.
