No cases of measles detected in Northern Cyprus

No cases of measles have been registered in Northern Cyprus. This was announced by the Minister of Health of the TRNC, Hakan Dinçyürek.

The minister's statement was made against the backdrop of a measles outbreak in the Republic of Cyprus, where between 6 and 10 cases of measles were reported in the first three months of this year, according to various sources.

Nevertheless, the head of the Ministry of Health of Northern Cyprus emphasized the importance of vaccinating all children at the recommended times to prevent possible cases of infection.

"The only way to prevent measles is vaccination. The increased spread of the disease in recent years has occurred due to the Covid-19 pandemic, anti-vaccination movements, and wars around the world," the minister stressed.

Earlier, the pediatric institute of Turkish Cypriots issued a statement regarding the increase in the number of measles cases registered in children in Europe and neighboring countries. Doctors urge the authorities of the country to take precautionary measures against the possible importation of the disease into Northern Cyprus. Foreign tourists are of particular concern to medical professionals.

The measles vaccine is usually administered to young children in two doses between the ages of one and four. Additionally, in the TRNC, there is a vaccination program for elementary school students who have not been vaccinated before.

The TRNC Primary Health Care Department annually visits schools to identify and administer missing vaccinations to students in the first and fifth grades.

Symptoms of measles include high fever, runny nose, redness and tearing of the eyes, cough, and typically, the appearance of a red or brown rash a few days later, starting on the face and spreading to the entire body.