Published Date: 2010-06-25 23:38:39
Subject: PRO/EAFR> Measles - Africa (24): Malawi
Archive Number: 20100626.208850

MEASLES - AFRICA (24): Malawi
*****************************
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 25 Jun 2010
Source: Reuters [edited]
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65O32320100625

Measles outbreak kills 82, infects thousands in Malawi
------------------------------------------------------
Dr Storn Kabuluzi, director of preventive health services in the
department of health, said efforts were being made to vaccinate those
most at risk. "We have registered 82 deaths, mostly children, and 17
496 cumulative cases in the last 6 months since the 1st measles
outbreak was reported in January this year [2010]," Kabuluzi told
Reuters in an interview.

Measles is an infectious disease characterized by a high temperature
and red spots all over the body. Severe measles is more likely among
poorly nourished young children. The most serious complications
include blindness, encephalitis, severe diarrhea and dehydration, ear
infections or severe respiratory infections such as pneumonia.

Kabuluzi said government had embarked on a vaccination campaign,
focusing on rural Malawi where 80 percent of the 13 million
population lives. He said government had secured around 600 million
Zambian kwacha (USD 117 000) so far for the program. "We are
currently conducting awareness campaigns and are in the process of
procuring the vaccine for the disease and we will target children
aged from 9 months to 15 years of age for vaccination," he said.

It costs less than one dollar to vaccinate a child against measles
but 2 doses are required for full protection.

[Byline: Mabvuto Banda]

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

[Malawi is one of the 14 countries in East and Southern Africa that
have been hit by measles outbreaks. The outbreaks are attributed to
many factors including the dwindling financial commitments by both
governments and development partners. The situation is worse in
Malawi where certain groups have been reported to refuse vaccination
for their children. The currently ongoing awareness campaigns are
therefore vital for mobilizing communities so as to ensure that all
the children targeted during vaccination campaigns are immunized.

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

See Also

Measles - Africa (23) 20100619.208705
Measles - Africa (22): Malawi, RFI 20100608.208543
Measles - Africa (21): Swaziland 20100608.208541
Measles - Africa (20): Zimbabwe 20100526.207614
Measles - Africa (19) 20100524.207547
Measles - Africa (18): Malawi 20100511.207265
Measles - Africa (17): Zimbabwe 20100508.207208
Measles - Africa (16): Zimbabwe 20100501.207073
Measles - Africa (15): Mauritania 20100428.207022
Measles - Africa (14): Malawi 20100422.206898
Measles - Africa (13): South Africa 20100421.206879
Measles - Africa (12): Zimbabwe 20100416.206801
Measles - Zambia: (Lusaka) 20100414.206758

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 - Taiwan: imported & local 20100625.2114
Measles - Africa (18): West, Southern 20100623.2095
Measles - Africa (17): Malawi 20100620.2073
Measles - Africa (16) 20100619.2063
Measles - Australia (03): (WA) nosocomial, alert 20100607.1897
Measles - Philippines (05) 20100523.1708
Measles, nosocomial - Slovenia (02), ex Ireland 20100521.169
...................jfw/ejp/be

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