2024-03-17 11:53:49
The second case of measles in 2024 was recorded in Volgodonsk: the city’s chief sanitary doctor told how to avoid infection with this virus.
In 2024, in Russia and the Rostov region in particular, according to Rospotrebnadzor, epidemiological problems with measles incidence remain. Thus, by the beginning of 2024, the incidence of measles in Russia increased 288 times. Cases of morbidity are also recorded in Volgodonsk, and therefore Bloknot talked regarding this topic with the city’s chief sanitary doctor, Alexander Anosyan.
Alexander Sergeevich, tell us in general terms regarding the situation with measles in Volgodonsk and the region.
Today, the situation with measles is quite complex. Last year, this disease was detected in 30 municipalities in the Rostov region, the overwhelming number of cases – 78% of the total – were registered among unvaccinated children under 17 years of age.
In Volgodonsk last year, one 1.5-year-old baby fell ill, who had not yet attended any educational institutions, and the situation was resolved successfully. In 2024, two cases were identified in the city – one in a kindergarten and recently, on March 12, one case was registered in a general education institution.
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In accordance with current legislation, in groups in which cases of measles have been identified, all unvaccinated people who had contact with the sick are suspended from school or work. This is done to prevent the spread of infection among children and adults.
Is it known how measles got to Volgodonsk?
It should be noted that measles is an infectious disease that is transmitted, among other things, by airborne droplets. The contact might have occurred anywhere – on the street, in a store, in any other public place, during contact, for example, with a visitor.
The difficulty is that some part of the population, for reasons unknown to me, do not vaccinate their children. We have developed a National Vaccination Calendar, according to which measles is included in the list of infections once morest which there is a vaccine. We have a good vaccine, we developed it a long time ago, it has proven its effectiveness.
In accordance with this calendar, children aged 1 to 17 years should be vaccinated. Adults aged 18 to 35 years who have not previously been vaccinated or have not had this disease are also subject to vaccination. The same applies to adults from 36 to 55 years old who are at risk. We are talking regarding workers involved in trade, in the transport sector, in the medical, social spheres and other similar ones.
All anti-epidemic measures in the city today are carried out in full together with healthcare institutions. The vaccination campaign is being carried out in accordance with the approved plan, including children’s and adult clinics. The heads of educational institutions are also notified of the conduct of these events, who have been given the relevant instructions and which they are obliged to follow.
What measures are being taken by your department and other services in connection with the detection of measles in Volgodonsk?
We worked promptly and in full, however, it should be taken into account that the incubation period of measles is 21 days, so during this period we will monitor the situation, monitor compliance with current legislation, and if there are no new cases during this period, then we can say regarding a positive resolution of the situation.
In addition, explanatory work will be carried out with parents on the need to vaccinate their children. You should be aware that an unvaccinated child can get sick both now and later, including following graduation from school or college. And the older the person, the more difficult the disease becomes.
Separately, I would like to note that in connection with the detection of cases of measles in several municipalities of the region, on February 7, a decree was issued by the chief sanitary doctor for the Rostov region. It states that mop-up immunization is carried out from March to October. This means that during this period, phased work will be carried out to identify unvaccinated citizens who should be vaccinated. For this purpose, health care institutions will review all the medical records of citizens they have. In Volgodonsk, this work will also be carried out by clinics.
What percentage of citizens in Volgodonsk are unvaccinated once morest measles?
Health care institutions have exact figures, but according to my data, we have a good percentage of vaccinated residents, including among the child population. There are, of course, unvaccinated people, but this phenomenon is not widespread. For a number of years, measles immunization coverage rates for children and adolescents have remained high (from 95% to 99%), measles immunization coverage in the age group from 18 to 35 years is 99.4%. Immunization once morest measles continues in risk groups in the age group 36-55 years.
When it comes to vaccinations, the final decision is made by citizens, and for children, by their parents?
Yes. Pediatricians, in turn, carry out explanatory work; most people agree that this procedure is necessary, that it is aimed at preserving human health.
Is there a chance that a vaccinated person can get sick?
There is a possibility, but it is extremely insignificant. This can happen for a number of reasons, including a person’s individual health status. But in my memory, such cases are extremely rare.
Our readers report a shortage of measles vaccine in Volgodonsk. Does such a situation exist?
As far as I know, city health institutions are receiving sufficient quantities of the vaccine. However, it should be taken into account that the vaccine is transported from Rostov-on-Don from special warehouses. A certain storage temperature is maintained there, and in general, the vaccine cannot simply be transported by putting it in your pocket. There are certain rules for storage, transportation, sales, and so on. If at some time there were interruptions, today healthcare institutions do not experience any problems in this regard.
Has Volgodonsk ever encountered a massive incidence of measles?
In my memory this never happened. In earlier periods – the 70s, 80s, 90s, the system of preventive vaccinations was carried out more extensively, because parents did not have any thoughts regarding not vaccinating their children. This has just started recently.
Today’s parents of kindergarteners and schoolchildren are regarding 25-30 years old, and they are the ones who make decisions for their children. In my opinion, refuseniks, the number of whom has recently increased, are not making the right decision.
The National Vaccination Calendar developed by the state assumes concern for the health of the population. Significant budgetary allocations are spent on the implementation of the vaccination campaign, and preventive vaccinations are free for the population. I would like to convey this message to people, to parents, to explain to them that by refusing to vaccinate their children, they are, first of all, putting them at risk.
What advice would you give to city residents to minimize the risk of contracting measles?
I repeat, it is necessary to get vaccinated within the time limits established by law, when pediatricians are invited to this procedure. You should not listen to people who convey thoughts once morest vaccination on the Internet, in unofficial and unverified sources. The national calendar of preventive vaccinations was developed over many days; it contains a large list of infections for which the state has developed vaccines. They have proven to be highly effective, and if these activities had not been carried out, the morbidity picture would have been completely different. This is proven by the fact that in the city of 165,000 people there was only one case of measles last year. This probably says something.
Konstantin Pribrezhny
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News of Bloknot-Volgodonsk
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