Health Ministry calls on people to vaccinate against measles
By Sabina Idayatova
Recorded measles cases in the neighboring countries faces
Azerbaijan a risk of the infection carriers through people visiting
from these countries, Deputy Director of the National Center for
Hygiene and Epidemiology Afag Aliyeva said on July 15.
"Most of measles cases were reported in Georgia," Aliyeva said. "The cases of measles were also observed in Turkey and Russia."
She warned the cases of measles have been recorded in Azerbaijan, fortunately few.
"The cases were recorded mainly with children who have not been
vaccinated in the course of the campaign, which was carried out in
2006 against rubella and measles, and with older people, who have
not been vaccinated for certain reasons. Therefore, it is necessary
to vaccinate against measles, because people who have not been
vaccinated are getting infected the disease," Aliyeva said.
Aliyeva further noted that, there is no danger of massive infection
with measles today.
" There is no worry over measles in the country," she stressed. "Furthermore, the examination into the cases determined that recorded infection in our country is in the same genotype as measles in Russia and the European countries. So, they are imported measles viruses and only one or two people caught infection in the country. Remedial actions are taken against infection, and vaccination is carried out," Aliyeva said.
According to Aliyeva, the vaccination is most reliable way to
protect against measles. "If the immune system is strong, then
spread of disease does not occur."
"If vaccination rate is high among the population, the infectious
disease in the neighboring countries are not dangerous," Aliyeva
added.
Regarding the measles epidemic in Georgia, Azerbaijan Railways CJSC
Spokesman Nadir Azmammadov said that disinfection work is carried
out regularly in all the trains, as well as in railway
stations.
Herewith, Azmammadov noted that, in the case of revealing the fact
of measles, additional measures are taken for sanitation and
disinfection.
In addition, Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC spokesman Maharram Safarli said the case of measles have not been found so far, but the company's sanitary epidemiological station always works in emergency schedule.