Outbreak of measles, a threat to health in Tanzania

.Health PS says more than 1,500 cases reported
.Parents urged to send children for vaccination

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Blandina Nyoni

The government yesterday announced an outbreak of measles in six regions that has already killed 18 people since January this year and affected more than 1,500 people.

Addressing a press conference yesterday in Dar es Salaam, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Blandina Nyoni named the affected regions as Iringa, Dar es Salaam, Coast, Tanga, Arusha and Morogoro.

Nyoni said the reports of the outbreak of measles in the regions were received between January 11 and June 22, this year.

The PS said between January and June 22 this year, 642 outbreaks were reported in Ngorongoro district from which ten people died.

In Iringa 362 people got infected one of whom died.

Nyoni said 349 measles cases were reported in Dar es Salaam districts of Kinondoni, Ilala and Temeke resulting in seven deaths.

“Of the 1,573 reported cases, 1,062 equivalent to 67 per cent are children under five,” Nyoni said, adding that 85 per cent of all the patients were either not vaccinated or do not remember when they were vaccinated.

She said the ministry in collaboration with local and international health organizations has already sent officers to the affected areas to carry out ring vaccination. The target group is children aged between nine months and five years, Nyoni said appealing to parents in the areas to ensure their children are vaccinated.

She said plans were on to carry out mass vaccinations in the country.

She said the ministry has dispatched a team of officers all around the country, and specifically to the affected areas to do intensive research on the measles outbreak, so as to successfully counter it.

She reminded the public that measles was a dangerous disease that could kill at any time, demanding urgent measures to counter it and protect people.

“Young children less than five years are the most vulnerable, Nyoni said, adding: “If we don’t protect our children then this is going to be a big problem to the government and the country in general,” said Nyoni.

“I am appeal to people especially parents to take care of their children by sending them to hospital for vaccination and vitamin A drops,” said Nyoni.