Increase in the number of measles and whooping cough cases in Armenia

21.08.2024

Article published on the aysor.am.ru website

Armenia has seen an increase in recorded cases of infectious diseases since last year, Director of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Stepan Atoyan, told a press conference on Wednesday.

In particular, there has been a significant rise in measles infections – 545 cases in 2023 and 547 already recorded up until 20 August this year.

“This year, we have also recorded an increase in the incidence of whooping cough, with 50 cases in 2023 and 98 already this year. The picture is similar to that during 2017-18. The vast majority of those infected are pre-school children”, said Atoyan.

There are also a high number of acute respiratory viral infection cases.

According to Atoyan, the probability of a spread of monkeypox in Armenia is low compared with African countries such as Congo, Uganda and Rwanda which are in the risk zone.

In addition, he noted that there had also been instances of scarlatina, which is a bacterial rather than a viral disease that often occurs in school-age children. However, the infection rate in the country is currently stable.

People are reminded that measles immunisation is available for children ranging from one and four to six years of age under the national vaccination programme. The Ministry of Health is therefore urging parents of unvaccinated children to make an appointment with their local polyclinic. Those who have been in contact with someone who has measles and not received two doses of the vaccine can also be vaccinated.

Source: https://www.aysor.am/ru/news