Ukraine health officials reported an additional 3,279 measles during the fourth week of the year (1,350 adults and 1,299 children), bringing the total to 11,757 people from December 28, 2018 to January 25, 2019.

Image/Robert Herriman
Image/Robert Herriman

In addition, another measles fatality was reported, bring the total to six, including two children.

The highest rates of morbidity are in Lviv (a total of 2 112 people: 724 adults and 1,388 children), Vinnitsa (1 120: 473 adults and 647 children), Rivne (1 112: 366 adults and 746 children), Khmelnytsky (815 : 448 adults and 367 children) regions and the city of Kyiv (901 people were affected in the capital: 458 adults and 443 children).

Officials say the outbreak of illness in Ukraine is a consequence of a decade of disappointing vaccination rates, in government procurement of medicines and vaccines, as well as irresponsible attitude towards this topic by the citizens themselves.

Vaccines, autism and a very important book

The Ministry of Health states concerning the media:

The role of the media is to protect all citizens through information support for vaccination and the dissemination of accurate information on measles and vaccines against it. The Ministry of Health of Ukraine calls on representatives of all media to join forces, support the dissemination of useful and truthful information on measles vaccination and stop dissemination of anti-scientific or politically motivated lie about the outbreak and vaccination, guaranteed by the state. Manipulation on the subject of vaccination and state-guaranteed protection pose a mortal danger for every Ukrainian.