Turkey Tightens Borders Fearing Measles Spread from Bulgaria

Bulgaria's foreign ministry warned Tuesday that authorities in Turkey had tightened border controls for fear of a spread of measles from its northern neighbour.

"Travellers with measles symptoms, such as fever, rash and coughing will be provisionally banned access into Turkey and should refrain from travelling," the Bulgarian ministry said in a statement.

Measles | Rubeola - Causes, Symptoms, Complications, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention
Measles is a viral infection with symptoms of fever,and rashes. Measles is prevented by vaccination and staying away from the infected individuals.

The authorities in Turkey had taken the preventive measures in order "to limit the risk of spread" of the disease, it added.

A measles epidemic broke out among Bulgaria's Roma population in April 2009 but only gained strength in recent months. So far, it has affected 18,000 people, including 20 who died of the disease, epidemic consultant Mira Kozhuharova told AFP.

The rapid spread of the disease among Roma children and adolescents was due to the fact that many of them lacked the obligatory vaccinations, she added.

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Bulgaria's last measles epidemic in 1992 affected some 22,000 people.

Source-AFP
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