A 10-year-old girl in Bukovina has passed away. Medical experts have revealed the cause and criticized the child's parents for their role in the tragedy.

In the Chernivtsi region, a 10-year-old girl died from measles in the hospital. The child was unvaccinated. This was reported by the Chernivtsi Regional State Administration's Department of Health.

"Since the beginning of the year, there has been one fatal case in the region; a 10-year-old child who was unvaccinated has died. Epidemiologists from the OCKPH conducted an investigation, identified contacts, and organized medical monitoring for them. This helped to stop the further spread of the infection in the specified outbreak," the statement said.

It is noted that 23.5% of children in the region who were supposed to receive the measles vaccination in 2024 have still not been vaccinated. This figure indicates a high risk of measles among children who have not been vaccinated. To form herd immunity, medical professionals state that vaccination coverage needs to reach 95-98% at both the regional and national levels.

Parents of children who have not received measles vaccinations cite the following reasons:

• parents' refusal to vaccinate their children due to religious beliefs;
• concerns about side effects;
• unjustified postponement of vaccination.

Measles vaccinations are provided free of charge: 1 dose at 12 months, 2 doses at 6 years.

Note: Measles is an acute viral disease characterized by inflammatory lesions of the upper respiratory tract, a rash, and the spread of toxins produced by the virus throughout the body. Before the measles vaccine was developed, the disease was widespread and was one of the leading causes of mortality among young children.

Viral-bacterial pneumonia is one of the most dangerous complications of measles. It primarily affects individuals with immunodeficiency and those with oncological diseases. Rare but severe complications of measles include hepatitis, myocarditis, glomerulonephritis, and lung abscess. The central nervous system is very rarely affected, manifesting as encephalitis and meningoencephalitis.

Recall that on February 10, it was reported that a child died in a hospital in Chernihiv, with parents accusing medical staff of negligence. The aunt of the deceased girl is convinced that the medical staff did not care for the child properly and that the family was not even informed of the child's death.