Published Date: 2010-10-05 15:48:22
Subject: PRO/EAFR> Measles - Africa (33): Zambia
Archive Number: 20101005.213842
MEASLES - AFRICA (33): ZAMBIA
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Date: Sun 3 Oct 2010
Source: Lusaka Times [edited]
http://www.lusakatimes.com/2010/10/03/measles-breaks-university-zambia/
Measles breaks out at University of Zambia
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Measles has broken out at the University of Zambia (UNZA) Great East Road Campus, ministry of health spokesperson Dr Reuben Kamoto Mbewe has said.
Dr Mbewe said 2 cases of the disease had been recorded, but assured students at the institution that the outbreak had been contained.
Contacted for a comment, UNZA Students Union (UNZASU) president Timothy Lumba also confirmed to ZNBC [Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation] of the outbreak but said the situation was under control.
Zambia had been hardly hit by a measles outbreak especially among children under 5. Over 60 000 cases had been recorded across the country with a number of deaths resulting from the outbreak. The
disease seemed to have been contained following a massive country vaccination exercise against the outbreak
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Communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via ProMED-EAFR
[Following the resurgence of measles in Zambia, an integrated national child health week for measles vaccination, targeting children form 6 months old to 5 years old, was implemented from 19 to
24 Jul 2010 (http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/zambia_55261.html). Epidemiological and laboratory investigations need to be undertaken for the cases mentioned in the current report as they are outside the high risk age-groups (less than 5 years old) for the recent measles outbreak in Zambia. The appropriate response should then be undertaken based on the findings of the investigation.
A map showing the provinces of Zambia can be accessed at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_Zambia and the HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of the country can be accessed athttp://healthmap.org/r/017q. - Mod.JFW]