Published Date: 2011-03-01 15:19:18
Subject: PRO/EAFR> Measles - Zambia: (Central)
Archive Number: 20110301.219143
MEASLES - ZAMBIA: (CENTRAL)
***************************
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 28 Feb 2011
Source: Zambia Daily Mail, ZANIS [Zambia News& Information Services]
report [edited]
http://www.daily-mail.co.zm/media/news/viewnews.cgi?category=10&id=1298927606
Serenje measles contained
-------------------------
Serenje District [Central province] Hospital has recorded a total of 371 cases of measles which have been successfully treated since November last year [2010] and 30 patients are currently being treated at the measles centre in Serenje district.
Serenje District medical officer Tiza Mfune disclosed to ZANIS that the 371 cases of measles do not include those that were treated at rural health centres in the district. He said currently, only 30
people were being treated at the Serenje district measles centre.
Last month [January 2011], the Serenje District Health Management Team (DHMT) had carried out a government-sponsored measles mop-up immunisation campaign in which thousands of children from the age of zero to 5 years were vaccinated.
The disease, which was first recorded on 25 Jan 2010, is believed to have been introduced into the district by a resident of Lusaka's Mandevu compound who visited the area and got sick while there.
Meanwhile, the number of people dying from measles in the district has continued to reduce. Serenje District Commissioner Stanley Chibwana said despite the epidemic spreading to most parts of the
district, there have been very few deaths.
Mr Chibwana said this is because Government has intensified efforts to curb the disease and disclosed that over K [Zambia Kwacha] 200 million [about USD 42 000] will be spent on the fight against the
epidemic.
--
Communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via ProMED-EAFR
[Serenje district in Zambia's Central province is reporting a reduction in measles cases and deaths following the completion of a mop up immunisation campaign in January 2011. This intervention needs
to be followed up with regular countrywide follow-up immunisation campaigns for measles as well as strengthening routine vaccination to prevent accumulation of unvaccinated cohorts. When all that is done case-based surveillance with laboratory support will have to be established to detect any new cases and monitor the effectiveness of the measles control strategy.
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/0x4T. - Mod.JFW]
See Also
Measles - DR Congo: (Katanga) vaccination 20110225.218869Measles - Nigeria (02): (Plateau) 20110217.218331
Measles - Cote d'Ivoire: (Sud-Comoe) 20110215.218270
Measles - Nigeria: (Bauchi) 20110127.217665
2010
----
Measles - Africa (39): DR Congo (South Kivu, Katanga) 20101202.215739
Measles - Africa (38): Angola (Moxico) 20101028.214600
Measles - Africa (37): Swaziland 20101024.214454
Measles - Africa (36): Zimbabwe 20101023.214413
Measles - Africa (35): Ethiopia 20101016.214179
Measles - Africa (34): Zambia 20101015.214175
Measles - Africa (31): Nigeria 20100825.211547
Measles - Africa (30): Malawi 20100816.211284
Measles - Africa (25) 20100712.209113
Measles - Africa (23) 20100619.208705
Measles - Africa (19) 20100524.207547
Measles - Africa (15): Mauritania 20100428.207022
Measles - Africa (13): South Africa 20100421.206879
Measles - Tanzania: (Mbeya) RFI 20100304.205931
Measles - Namibia (02): (Kunene) 20100204.205285
Measles - Botswana: update 20100117.204972
2009
----
Measles, control activities - Africa: 2000-2008 20090925.202675
...................................jfw/mj/be