KIEV, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian Health Ministry on Tuesday reported an outbreak of measles disease in all but four Ukrainian regions.

A total of 1,285 Ukrainians, including 856 children, have been diagnosed with measles since the start of this year, the ministry said in a statement.

A five-year-old child has died of complications caused by measles in the southern Odessa region, the ministry said.

The highest number of measles cases was registered in three regions in western Ukraine.

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

Last year, there were 4,782 cases of measles in Ukraine, including five deaths caused by the disease.