Published Date: 2010-02-01 14:08:25
Subject: PRO/EAFR> Measles - Nigeria: (Bayelsa)
Archive Number: 20100201.205224
MEASLES - NIGERIA: (BAYELSA)
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A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases http://www.isid.org
Date: Fri 29 Jan 2010
Source: The Punch (Nigeria) [edited]
http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100129303093
Bayelsa appeals for calm over measles epidemic
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The Bayelsa State Government on Thursday [28 Jan 2010] appealed for
calm over the outbreak of measles epidemic in Owukoro, Southern Ijaw
Local Government Area of the state. The state commissioner for
health, Dr Azipabu Eruani, said the epidemic had been contained and
assured indigenes of the area that it would not spread to other parts
of the riverside local government or state.
Eruani said doctors and other medical personnel, as well as the
necessary medications had been mobilised to the affected communities.
He said an aid group, Doctors Without Borders, had also mobilised
resources to complement the efforts of the Ministry of Health.
"Our doctors are handling it. Bayelsans should be calm, we appeal to
everybody to report any health situation around them. The measles
will not spread," he said. Eruani said 4 doctors and other medical
personnel had been sent to Owukoro alone. He said the necessary drugs
and other requirements had been dispatched to the affected community.
The commissioner added that more immunization officers would be sent
to the local government area so that the epidemic would not spread.
He could not confirm the number of the dead at press time, saying the
claims about the number of victims in Owukoro could not be verified
by the team from the health ministry. I will be going to the
community this afternoon (Thu 28 Jan 2010) to see things for myself, he added.
[Byline: Olamilekan Lartey]
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Communicated by:
ProMED-EAFR
[The new measles outbreak on Bayelsa indicates a need to review and
strengthen the measles control strategies that are being used by the
state health authorities.
A map of Nigeria showing the state of Bayelsa can be located at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_of_Nigeria and the
HealthMap/ProMED interactive map of Nigeria is available at
http://healthmap.org/r/013H. - Mod.JFW]