Ukraine measles outbreak kills 14, infects over 32,000

KIEV, March 25 (Xinhua) -- At least 14 people died and more than 32,000 were infected in a major measles outbreak in Ukraine in the past three months, the country's Health Ministry said on Monday.

A total of 32,939 people, including 18,109 children, were infected from December 28, 2018 to March 12, 2019 by measles in Ukraine, the ministry said in a statement.

Last year, 35,120 cases of measles were recorded in Ukraine nationwide compared with 4,782 cases confirmed in 2017. It marked the largest increase in measles cases in the world, according to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

Totally, an estimated 35 people have died of measles in Ukraine since the start of the outbreak of the disease in 2017.

The Ukrainian health authorities blamed the low level of immunization for the outbreak of the disease.

measles is a highly contagious viral disease transmitted by respiratory droplets and direct contact.