Published Date: 2010-03-17 00:50:44
Subject: PRO/EAFR> Measles - Malawi: (Blantyre, Lilongwe)
Archive Number: 20100317.206169

MEASLES - MALAWI: (BLANTYRE, LILONGWE)
**************************************
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: Mon 15 Mar 2010
Source: Panapress, Panafrican News Agency (PANA) report [edited]
http://www.panapress.com/freenews.asp?code=eng041083&dte=15/03/2010


Over 100 hundred measles cases have been reported in Malawi's major
cities of Blantyre and Lilongwe, sparking fears of an outbreak. But
health authorities have dismissed the outbreak fears, calling it "a
normal occurrence among unimmunised children."

Secretary for Health Chris Kang'ombe told PANA Monday [15 Mar 2010]
that 74 cases of measles were reported in high-density townships of
the commercial capital, Blantyre, by Friday [12 Mar 2010].

He also said some cases had been reported in high-density townships
of the administrative capital, Lilongwe. "We cannot call this an
outbreak because those children attacked are those that were not
immunized against measles soon after birth," he said.

Measles is a respiratory infection caused by a virus. It can be
highly contagious if treatment is delayed. It induces flu-like
symptoms such us running nose, coughing, and fever. It also causes
skin-rashes. Kang'ombe said the Ministry of Health had since
intensified public awareness on the importance of having babies
vaccinated against various diseases.

--
Communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[In 1998, Malawi launched a 3-pronged strategy to eliminate measles.
The strategy entails: a nationwide immunization campaign usually
targeting every child from 9 months to 14 years; sustained routine
immunization coverage of at least 95 percent of children during the
1st year of life; and nationwide campaigns every 2-5 years usually
targeting children born after the initial catch-up campaign. This has
boosted the immunization coverage against measles from only 50
percent in 1980 to almost 90 percent today [2010] leading to a sharp
drop in measles cases and deaths. However, measles epidemics still
occur every 3-5 years triggered by a build-up of unimmunised cohorts
and by the vaccine's inherent 15 percent failure rate
(http://www.who.int/inf-new/child3.htm).

A map showing the regions of Malawi can be seen at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_Malawi. Blantyre and
Lilongwe can be located on the HealthMap/ProMED interactive map of
the country at http://healthmap.org/r/01am. - Mod.JFW]

See Also

Measles - South Africa (10): (Western Cape) 20100316.206161
Measles - Tanzania: (Mbeya) RFI 20100304.205931
Measles - South Africa (05) 20100212.205479
Measles - South Africa (02): update 20100122.205080
Measles - South Africa: update 20100111.204804
Measles - Zimbabwe (03): update 20100121.205063

[Additional background information on measles is available from the
general ProMED-mail list. The postings below can be found at
http://www.promedmail.org. - Mod.JFW

Measles - Africa (09): Nigeria (BA) 20100310.0781
Measles - Africa (08): South Africa (WC), Zimbabwe (BU) 20100302.0692
Measles - Philippines (02): (TR) 20100224.0614
Measles - Philippines: alert 20100223.0599
Measles, adoptee - USA: (AZ), alert 20100213.0511
Measles - Africa (07): South Africa 20100212.0503
...................................jfw/mj/be
_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________
ProMED-EAFR mailing list
ProMED-EAFR@promedmail.org
http://eafr.promedmail.org/