ARMENIA’S GOVERNMENT APPROVES NATIONAL PROGRAM ON COMBAT AGAINST MEASLES, RUBELLA AND MUMPS
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 28 2007
YEREVAN, June 28. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Government approved the National
program on liquidating the local cases of such diseases as measles
and rubella, control over mumps and prevention of inborn rubella
syndrome for 2007-2010, said Head of State hygiene and antiepidemic
inspection Artavazd Vanyan.
"Despite significant success in reducing cases of measles, the disease
still remains one of the most dangerous infectious diseases causing
infant mortality," he said and added that 10% of infant mortality
fell to measles.
Vanyan pointed out that rubella being a less grave disease than measles
has more serious consequences affecting the development of a fetus.
He said that to struggle with such a dangerous disease, the WHO
adopted a strategy for combat against measles in the European region
up to 2010.
"The analysis of the epidemiological situation in Armenia shows that
at present low level of measles is recorded, despite the fact that
after seven years of slack, epidemic of measles was recorded in the
country in 2004-2005," he said.
According to Vanyan, within the national program first of all it is
intended to conduct mass injections. He said that the adoption of
the program will give a possibility to improve the epidemiological
situation in Armenia by enhancing laboratory base, raising public
awareness.