site.btaUPDATED Measles Cases Registered in Bulgaria Reach 159

The number of measles cases in Bulgaria has reached 159, said Iliya Tasev, Director of the Public Health Protection, Health Control and Patients’ Rights Directorate at the Ministry of Health, speaking to journalists on Wednesday. Tasev added that 20,000 children have been vaccinated against measles since the beginning of March.

The number of measles cases reported earlier on the Health Minisry's website was 153 as of Tuesday.

"Measles has been spreading for a second month now, with the spread limited to seven regions, and isolated cases in three of them " Tasev said. "Measures to identify and immunize unvaccinated children are yielding results," he added.

83% of the total number of infected individuals so far are children. Not all children develop immunity, and there is also a small percentage who never do, Tasev said. Regional Health Inspectorates are already carrying out inspections regarding children’s immunization status. When asked whether there are suspicions of fictitious immunizations, Tasev replied that there are ways to test and determine whether a child has actually been vaccinated.

Tasev took part in the national conference Bulgaria as a Destination for Medical Tourism - Development, Partnerships and International Markets.

The Health Ministry said on its website that since the recent boom in measles cases, more than 19,580 vaccines against measles, mumps, and rubella have been administered. Immunization is mandatory and is given after 13 months of age and again after 12 years of age.

The main symptoms of measles are high fever, runny nose, cough, watery eyes, eye inflammation, and rash.