Four Children in Cyprus Diagnosed with Measles at Same Kindergarten

Four children have been hospitalized at Makarios Hospital in Cyprus after being diagnosed with measles. All of the children attended the same kindergarten.

Avraam Elias, the director of the pediatric clinic at Makarios Hospital, spoke on the "Alpha Kalimera" program, explaining that the affected children are girls aged 13, 14, 16, and 17 months. The fourth patient, a 14-month-old girl, was admitted to the hospital late the previous evening.

The specific kindergarten the children attended has not been disclosed.

Dr. Elias mentioned that the symptoms are consistent with typical measles, including high fever, fatigue, anorexia, and the characteristic rash.

The rise in measles cases is being linked to a decrease in vaccination rates. None of the four hospitalized children had received their vaccinations. They only received their first dose after the onset of symptoms.

The first dose of the measles vaccine is given at 12–13 months and offers 95% protection. A second dose, given 3–4 months later, boosts protection to over 97%.

In addition to this, it was recently reported that two children in Cyprus were diagnosed with meningitis on the same day. The children did not know each other and had no contact.

A six-month-old boy with bacterial meningitis is also being treated at Makarios Hospital. Despite his critical condition, his life is not in danger.