RIGA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Latvia has recorded its first measles outbreak since 2018, Ilze Udre, a spokesperson for the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) noted Wednesday.
She pointed out that the CDC is carrying out an epidemiological investigation of the outbreak and organizing infection control measures.
Five measles cases have been reported up to March 17, including three laboratory-confirmed cases, two schoolchildren and one adult, as well as two suspected cases among schoolchildren, the results of the laboratory tests of which are pending. All reported cases are epidemiologically linked.
According to Udre, the number of identified contacts is very high, at least 800 persons. The risk of further spread of infection, especially among the unvaccinated people, is also considered to be high.
Recommendations have been provided to contacts, including guidance on what to do in case of illness, including self-isolation.
The last measles outbreaks in Latvia were recorded in 2018, when 25 cases were reported, and in 2014, when 36 cases were reported.
Measles is a vaccine-preventable infection and vaccination is the only effective way to protect against the disease and prevent measles outbreaks. Although every child in Latvia is entitled to a state-paid measles vaccination, the CDC data shows that about 14,000 or 4 percent of children aged between one and 17 years have not received any measles vaccination. ■
