YEREVAN, MARCH 7, ARMENPRESS. The second case of imported measles has been detected in Armenia as a lab test confirmed the disease on March 6 in a person who arrived in Armenia from Belgium via Georgia on February 20, the healthcare ministry said. The ministry did not release the identity or nationality of the patient.

According to the news release of the healthcare ministry the person began experiencing fever from February 25, and three days later rash appeared on the body. At first, it was misdiagnosed as medication allergy. The patient was tested for measles on March 6, and the result was positive.

The first imported measles case in Armenia happened when an infected Ukrainian passenger arrived in Yerevan from Kiev via the PS611 flight.  The healthcare ministry said both patients had contacts with many people before being diagnosed, and identifying and tracking down all of them is practically impossible.

The ministry called on everyone not having been vaccinated to do so, since it is the only preventive measure.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan