Published Date: 2010-08-25 00:37:00
Subject: PRO/EAFR> Measles - Africa (31): Nigeria
Archive Number: 20100825.211547
MEASLES - AFRICA (31): NIGERIA
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Date: Mon 23 Aug 2010
Source: Nigerian Tribune (Nigeria) [edited]
http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/10033-measles-claims-18-others-hospitalised-in-bayelsa
An outbreak of measles has reportedly claimed the lives of 18
children, while several others are receiving medical attention at
different health centres in Onewari community in Southern Ijaw Local
Government Area of the state [Bayelsa].
The people of the community are now living in fear as a result of the
outbreak, which a medical source attributed to inadequate response to
immunisation programmes by parents and guardians in the area.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the council, Easterday
Ayibatairi, said the situation was under control, as some health
officers in the council had been mobilised to the community to arrest
the situation.
Ayibatairi said the mobilization of the health officers to the
measles-stricken area was to ensure the disease did not spread to
other neighboring communities.
There are strong indications that the state Ministry of Health will
dispatch a team of medical personnel to the community to check the
measles outbreak and also sensitize parents on the need to immunize
their children.
Between December last year [2009] and February this year [2010], a
measles outbreak killed over 28 children in Okpotuwari and Ondewari
communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government.
[Byline: Soji Ajibola, Yenagoa]
--
Communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via ProMED-EAFR
[The measles control strategy encourages countries to maintain high
coverage for routine measles immunisation followed by a catch up
campaign and supplementary immunisation activities at least every 2
years to mop up all the unvaccinated children. In the event of an
outbreak like this one, it is critical that a comprehensive
investigation is undertaken to identify the current gaps in the
national measles immunisation strategy. This would guide the
initiation of appropriate interventions to address the identified gaps.
A map of Nigeria can be located at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_of_Nigeria, and the
HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Nigeria can be located at
http://healthmap.org/r/03oh. - Mod.JFW]
See Also
Measles - USA (Pennsylvania) ex Malawi 20100817.211315Measles - Africa (30): Malawi 20100816.211284
Measles - Africa (29): Zambia 20100811.211138
Measles - Africa (28): Zambia 20100805.210874
Measles - Africa (27): Malawi 20100718.209231
Measles - Africa (26): Zambia 20100714.209169
Measles - Africa (25) 20100712.209113
Measles - Africa (24): Malawi 20100626.208850
Measles - Africa (23) 20100619.208705
Additional background information on measles is available from the
general ProMED-mail list. The postings below can be found at
http://www.promedmail.org.
Measles - Australia (04): (NS) alert 20100820.2908
Measles - Africa (22): Malawi 20100817.2854
Measles - India: (JK) RFI 20100813.2785
Measles - New Zealand (02): (Auckland) alert 20100810.2739
Measles - Argentina: ex South Africa, susp 20100809.2714
Measles - Brazil: (PA), RFI 20100807.2682
Measles - Africa (21): Zambia 20100806.2669
Measles - Europe: re-emergence 20100729.2548
Measles - Africa (20): Zambia 20100714.2360
Measles - Australia ex South Africa 20100709.2299
...........................................jfw/mj/be/msp
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