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Rumbidzayi Zinyuke Senior Health Reporter
The measles outbreak first reported in the Mutasa district in April has spread to other provinces, with 80 deaths recorded so far, Permanent Secretary for Health and Child Care Dr Jasper Chimedza has reported.
Most of those infected are children aged six months to 15 months and belonging to religious sects that bar vaccination.
The Ministry has launched a major emergency measles vaccination campaign with particular emphasis on vaccinating everyone in the most vulnerable group, those aged six months to 15 months, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated before.
Such effective vaccination and revaccination campaigns have ended previous outbreaks.
Generally, all small children are routinely vaccinated against measles as part of the general child care programmes of the Ministry, but there are religious groups that refuse vaccination, or any other medical treatment, and thus put their children at risk.
As of August 11, a total of 1 036 suspected measles cases have been reported, with 125 laboratory confirmed cases.
The case fatality rate currently stands at 6,9 percent with Manicaland Province still having the highest number of cases, with 356, and 45 deaths.
In a statement yesterday, Dr Chimedza said church gatherings were the major source of the outbreak and gatherings bringing in people from other provinces had led to the spread of measles.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory tract viral infection commonly found in children and is spread through sneezing, coughing and by touching or contact with secretions of an affected individual.
The symptoms start with a cough, fever and a skin rash.
In May, the Ministry of Health launched a massive vaccination and re-vaccination campaign in response to the outbreak in Mutasa district.
Dr Chimedza said Government was working with partners to institute more measures to curb the further spread of measles and avoid unnecessary deaths.
“The Ministry is increasing routine vaccination to reach above 95 percent coverage for both first and second doses in children. Additionally, we are instituting a mass vaccination campaign targeting the 6 months to 15 years age groups regardless of their vaccination status,” he said.
He said health education campaigns on measles prevention in the affected areas were being carried out as well as giving encouragement to parents and guardians to bring their children for vaccination and timely management of measles for free to avoid complications and deaths.
Rapid response teams in all provinces have also been activated to avert the further spread of measles.
The risk of developing severe measles or dying from complications of measles is very high in unvaccinated children under 15 years.
However, severe complications from measles can be reduced through supportive care that ensures good nutrition, adequate fluid intake and treatment of dehydration with WHO-recommended oral rehydration solution. The WHO and Unicef early this year warned of a brewing perfect storm of conditions for measles outbreaks affecting children.
According to WHO, almost 17 338 measles cases were reported worldwide in January and February 2022, compared to 9665 during the first two months of 2021.
Online Reporter