Tag Archives: Measles

WHO begins measles vaccination of 4.7m children in the north-east

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The World Health Organisation has started a campaign to vaccinate 4.7 million children against a measles outbreak in three north eastern states: Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

The vaccination campaign, which is expected to last for two weeks, began on Friday.

“This measles vaccination campaign is an emergency intervention to protect more than 4 million children against a highly contagious and sometimes deadly disease,” said Wondimagegnehu Alemu, a doctor and WHO Representative in Nigeria.

“Massive disruption to health services in conflict-affected areas for many years has deprived these children of essential childhood vaccinations. In addition, many of them have severe malnutrition, making them extremely vulnerable to serious complications and death from measles.”

A publication on the WHO website reports that the organisation established Early Warning, Alert and Response System (EWARS), which reported more than 1500 suspected measles cases in Borno state from early September to 18 December 2016.

More than 77% of children aged less than 5 years in Borno state have never received the measles vaccine and this is the age group where most cases have occurred.

The Borno state ministry of health, with support from WHO and partners, has already vaccinated more than 83 000 children aged 6 months to 15 years living in camps for IDPs where measles cases had been reported.

These campaigns have started to show results, with a reduction of measles cases around the camps.

Japan Warns On Measles After Infected Fan Joins Bieber Concert

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Japanese authorities have warned of a possible measles outbreak after a fan who went to a Justin Bieber concert near Tokyo was diagnosed with the contagious disease, officials said Friday.

A 19-year-old man had a fever of more than 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit) and a rash over his body after returning from Indonesia earlier this month, the Disease Control and Prevention Center (DCC) and local media have said.

Despite the condition, the man, whose name was withheld, went to Bieber’s concert on August 14 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, east of Tokyo, where some 25,000 fans gathered for the event, they said.

The man, from the western Japanese city of Nishinomiya, then stopped in Tokyo and neighbouring Kanagawa prefecture before returning home on August 19, when he was finally diagnosed with measles.

“Measles is highly infectious,” an official at Japan’s health and welfare ministry told AFP.

“It could lead to a fatal case,” he added, issuing warnings to hospitals across the nation to be aware of an outbreak.

Concert organisers on their website also asked those who attended to see doctors if they developed symptoms.

Read More:

http://guardian.ng/news/japan-warns-on-measles-after-infected-fan-joins-bieber-concert/

Lagos Confirms Death Of 20 Children From Measles

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The Lagos State Government on Monday confirmed that measles was responsible for the death of no fewer than 20 children in Otodo-Gbame community in Ikate, Lekki area of Lagos State.

 

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, confirmed the development at a news conference in Lagos.

 

According to him, results of the laboratory investigations have confirmed that measles virus is the cause of the epidemic of the Febrile Rash Illness (FRI) as the condition was initially described.

 

“All the five blood samples taken to the Central Public Health Laboratory, Yaba, tested positive for IgM, a blood marker for recent infection with measles virus.

“In addition, four throat swabs and one blood sample investigated at the Virology Reference Laboratory, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), indicated the presence of measles virus through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique,” he said.

 

Idris said that children from the affected community had missed out during the previous measles immunisation.

 

“This is due to mass emigration to Lagos from neighbouring states; several new communities had emerged and settled in some rural far-to-reach areas in the state.

“This is without the knowledge of the state government and because the areas are unplanned, there may not be proper potable water supply for drinking and toilet facilities for urination and defecation.

“Besides, there are several cases of open defecation in the area and the only source of drinking water was contaminated with bacteria, resulting in both infection and spread of diseases.

“However, during the last measles vaccination that took place nationwide, children in that area were later covered and appropriately immunised,” he said.

 

The commissioner said that all 34 cases line listed and managed by the government health workers had fully recovered.
He said, however, that intensive surveillance and community sensitisation would continue.

“The state government is conducting mapping of all slum areas in the state toward reducing the health hazards associated with such areas.

“All citizens should continue to practise health promotion and disease prevention measures including basic environmental sanitation, proper disposal of refuse and avoiding open defecation.

“Practise regular hand washing with soap; all pregnant women should attend antenatal care, while all children should be immunised against deadly vaccine-preventable childhood diseases,” he said.

 

The disease, which broke out in January 2016, had led to panic in the community. The affected children, after contracting the ailment, developed rashes and died two or three days after.

 

 

(NAN)

Lagos State Govt. To Commence 2016 Immunisation Campaign Tomorrow

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The Lagos State Government said it would commence the 2016 Measles Follow-Up Campaign on Thursday, Jan. 28, to run through Monday, Feb. 1.

 

 

Dr Jide Idris, the Commissioner for Health, stated this on Tuesday in Lagos during a media briefing. He said that healthcare providers at all levels had been trained to ensure the success of this year’s campaign. Idris said that the measles campaign would last for five days in wards and communities.

 

 

“We have mounted 521 fixed posts in health facilities and 2, 216 temporary posts in public/ private schools, churches, mosques, town halls, bus stops, motor parks and markets, where immunisation will be provided.

 

 

I appeal to parents and caregivers to ensure that their children between ages nine months up to five years are taken to the health posts for the vaccination.

 

 

The service is free; the vaccine is safe and effective and is to be administered to children irrespective of their previous immunisation status.

 

 

Though the duration of immunity conferred by measles antigen is lifelong and it is 85 per cent efficient,” he said. Idris explained that measles was one of the six childhood killer diseases that could be prevented via complete and effective vaccination.

 

 

“Children do not need to die from vaccine preventable diseases such as tuberculosis, pertussis, tatanus, diphtheria, poliomyelitis and yellow fever. Every child is expected to complete the routine immunisation schedule before the age of one to boost the immunity of the child against killer infections.

 

 

“The symptoms of measles infection include fever, running nose, sneezing, ulcer of the mouth, skin rashes that starts from the head and spreads to other parts of the body.

 

 

Complication of measles infection is swelling of the brain tissues, ear and chest infection, blindness and even death.

 

 

It is therefore, crucial for us to prevent children from this deadly disease by ensuring they receive a dose of measles immunisation during this campaign period,” Idris said.

 

 

 

(NAN)