Wüstenschiff

Tansania - Masern
12.09.2011

Der Ausbruch, der seit Mitte August Sansibar betrifft, hat nun bis Anfang September schon zu 262 Erkrankungen geführt. Die Insel war 5 Jahre lang frei von Masern. Impfschutz beachten. Fehlende Impfungen sollten gemäß den aktuellen STIKO-Empfehlungen nachgeholt werden. / Quelle: crm

Gruß
Birgitt

MEASLES UPDATE 2011 (32)
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[1] Kenya (Dadaab)
Date: Mon 12 Sep 2011
Source: Nairobi Star/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX [edited]
<http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp ... a251871%7D>


Daadab [Dadaab] refugee camp has been identified as the source of the
current measles outbreak. Public Health Director Shariff Shaanaz
suspects the disease has spread from the camp where several cases have
been reported. He said they have launched an anti-measles campaign at
the camp to ensure the disease does not spread further.

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[It must be presumed that this report refers to the Dadaab (not
Daadab) camp. Dadaab is a semi-arid town in the North Eastern Province
in Kenya. As of 2011, it has been described as the largest refugee
camp in the world. Dadaab is located approximately 100 km from the
Kenya-Somalia border. Its location is shown in the map at:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dadaab>. - Mod.CP]

******
[2] Somalia (Marere)
Date: Tue 13 Sep 2011
Source: Medecins Sans Frontieres, Field News [abridged & edited]
<http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/ne ... field-news>


Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) is currently battling outbreaks of
cholera and measles in and around the town of Marere in southern
Somalia. Around 5000 Somalis fleeing conflict and drought in their
villages are now seeking shelter in Marere and the surrounding
villages of Jilib, Keytoy, and Osman Mo. MSF is trying to counter the
outbreaks but is finding that this effort is no different from its
other interventions in Somalia, which is to say that security and
other matters are limiting the organization's ability to respond to
the degree that is necessary.

"Since the outbreak of the measles epidemic among the displaced
people, we managed to treat over 150 cases," said Silvia Colona, MSF
Project Coordinator for Marere. "Ideally, we would do mass vaccination
of all children in these villages. That is the only way we know to
stop an epidemic among vulnerable people. Until now, this has not
happened. If the authorities grant us the possibility to do mass
vaccinations amongst the children in the affected locations, we can
prevent an epidemic and many unnecessary deaths."

Hundreds of thousands of Somalis have been on the move this year
[2011] seeking relief from a worsening humanitarian crisis marked by
war, violence, lack of development, lack of assistance, and drought.
Many are malnourished and weak, and opportunistic infections --
cholera and measles in particular -- are rife, given the lack of clean
drinking water and sanitary conditions.

This week, MSF also distributed relief items to the displaced people
in Jilib. Blankets, buckets and cooking pots were handed out to over
1600 households lacking the most essential items. MSF has worked
continuously in Somalia since 1991 and currently provides free medical
care in 8 regions. Over 400 Somali staff supported by approximately
100 staff in Nairobi provide free primary healthcare, surgery,
treatment for malnutrition, as well as support to displaced people
through health care, water supply and relief items distributions in 9
locations in south and central Somalia. MSF is also providing medical
care to Somali refugees in Kenya and Ethiopia.

--
Communicated by:
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[A map of Somalia showing the location of Marere can be accessed at:
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8280415.stm>. - Mod.CP]

******
[3] Zambia (Luapula)
Date: Mon 12 Sep 2011
Source: AllAfrica.com, ex Times of Zambia [edited]
<http://allafrica.com/stories/201109121255.html>


Chiengi district in Luapula province has recorded an outbreak of
measles, with 10 more patients treated for the disease. Both District
Commissioner (DC) Freeman Kaputo and district medical officer James
Zulu confirmed the development in separate interviews. Mr. Kaputo said
although the outbreak was serious, no deaths had been recorded in the
past 14 days in which the health authorities had been treating measles
cases.

Dr Zulu said cases of measles were being recorded in areas between
Chienge and Nchelenge districts. "We have cases of measles recorded in
areas bordering Nchelenge district, Kabwe and Puta areas," he said. Dr
Zulu said health personnel had put in place measures aimed at ensuring
that the disease did not spread to other areas. He said most of the
measles-affected areas were those which were not covered during the
international medical volunteers' agency Medicine Sans Frontiers
(MSF)'s measles vaccines distribution and sensitization campaigns last
July [2011].

The health campaigns in which the MSF volunteers distributed free
vaccines and conducted measles prevention sensitization were
prematurely completed last July [2011] because of hostility from the
villagers who accused the MSF team of being Satanists. This happened
after word went round that the MSF medical practitioners had arrived
to collect human blood and were pretending to be distributing vaccines
and carrying out health campaigns.

--
Communicated by:
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[A map showing the location of Luapula province can be accessed at:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luapula_Province>. - Mod.CP]

Measles outbreaks: Regions of the Americas, Europe and Africa
07.10.2011 - WHO

In 2011 several large measles outbreaks have been reported from Member States in the European and African regions, with several reported outbreaks in the Americas linked to Europe or Africa.

Europe: As of 20 September 2011, 40 of 53 Member States in the WHO European Region have reported 26 025 confirmed measles cases for the period January – July 2011 to the WHO European Regional Office through routine surveillance and outbreak reports. The highest number of cases was reported from France with 14 025 cases for the first six months of the year. In addition, eleven of all cases in the Region were lethal (6 in France and one in each of Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Romania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the United Kingdom). The predominant genotype currently circulating in the European Region is D4, the same endemic genotype from the United Kingdom in 2008. The most recent outbreak was reported from Israel in September, with 12 cases. Member States have responded to the outbreak by modifying the vaccination schedule, like France, or by offering vaccination free of charge or in schools, to increase accessibility to and availability of vaccines.

Africa: The Regional Office reports that as of September 2011 large measles outbreaks are being reported by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with over 103 000 cases, Nigeria, with 17 428 cases, and Zambia, with 5 397 cases, and Ethiopia, with 2 902 cases. Even though deaths are not routinely reported to the Regional Office, the WHO Country Office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo reports over 1100 measles-associated deaths in the country during 2011.

Americas: The last case of endemic measles was reported from the region in 2002. In 2011 the Region has received reports of several outbreaks linked to importation of measles virus from other regions. The largest, in Quebec, Canada, involves 742 reported cases, 89 requiring hospitalization, but no measles-associated deaths. Other outbreaks have been reported from the United States (213 cases), Ecuador (41 cases), Brazil (18 cases), Columbia (7 cases), Mexico (3 cases), and Chile (6 cases). Most of these outbreaks are linked to importations from Europe, except for outbreaks in the United States and Chile linked to cases from Malaysia and the outbreak in Ecuador, linked to Kenya.

Measles is a highly infectious disease that causes complications and deaths, even in previously-healthy individuals, but is fully preventable by vaccination. Countries need to ensure that they reach 95% coverage with two doses of measles vaccine across all age groups up to 15 years of age. Otherwise the country will experience measles outbreaks with large numbers of cases, associated hospitalizations and deaths. The recent outbreaks in countries with high volumes of international travellers can lead to measles exportation to regions previously free of measles, such as the Region of the Americas or certain African countries. These exportations can lead to large outbreaks and associated deaths.

These outbreaks should remind travellers that they should ensure that they have had two doses of measles-containing vaccine before their trip.

Quelle: WHO

Gruß
Birgitt

Nigeria - Masern
10.10.2011

Der diesjährige Erkrankungsausbruch hat landesweit bis Mitte September zu über 17.400 Fällen geführt. Über die Anzahl der Todesfälle gibt es keine genauen Angaben. Fehlende Impfungen sollten gemäß den aktuellen STIKO-Empfehlungen nachgeholt werden. / Quelle: crm

Gruß
Birgitt

MEASLES UPDATE 2011 (41)
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******
India
Date: Sat 19 Nov 2011
Source: Times of India [edited]
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city ... 790593.cms


Following reports of an outbreak of measles among children, the
district administration on Friday [18 Nov 2011] launched a special
campaign to administer anti-measles vaccines among the kids.

Civil surgeon Shashibhushan Singh said 536 000 children would be
covered under the special vaccination programme. He added that the
report received [reports] from the rural areas of Dhanbad suggesting
an outbreak of measles during this time of changing season.

The administration has engaged 8291 health department staff under the
special vaccination programme. On the 1st day, 92 000 children at all
block primary health centres were administered vaccines. Singh himself
visited PHCs at Govindpur, Nirsa and Koylanagar to supervise the
vaccination programme.

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[This is the 1st report of an outbreak of measles virus infection from
the Indian subcontinent during the current multi-country outbreak.
There is no indication of the number of cases involved, but the
vaccination response is considerable. According to UNICEF, vaccination
coverage in India was high, at 87 percent, in 2010 but not sufficient
to eliminate the disease.

Dhanbad is a city in the Indian state of Jharkhand and is also known
as the Coal Capital of India. Dhanbad is the 79th fastest growing city
in world. According to the 2011 census, Dhanbad is among the 35 cities
of India with a population of more than one million. Maps showing the
location of Dhanbad can be accessed at:
http://dhanbad.nic.in/maps.html. - Mod.CP]

MEASLES UPDATE 2011 (42)
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Kenya (Mwingi)
Date: Sat 26 Nov 2011
Source: The Star [edited]
http://www.the-star.co.ke/local/northea ... spitalised


Eleven critically ill children and 3 women of the Kavonokya
[religious] sect have been forcefully admitted at Mwingi District
Hospital following a outbreak of measles. The sick were rounded up
during an operation by Mwingi public health personnel led by the
district head David Munyoki. By Wednesday [23 Nov 2011], 501 sect
members' children had been immunised against measles. The
immunisation, backed by armed police officers, was launched after 11
children died from measles in Ngoo sub-location of Mwingi East
district in the past 2 months.

Kavonokya members do not take their children to hospital because they
claim it is against their faith. A Star [journalist] visited the
patients admitted to an isolated ward at the hospital. Munyoki said
the children and their mothers are responding well to treatment. He
said the patients were isolated to avoid cross-infection of other
patients in the hospital. "The rest of the people have received
immunisation, and only members of the Kavonokya sect do not take their
own for immunization. We could not put them together with other
patients," pointed out the public health officer.

Munyoki said 14 villages in Lundi and Ngoo areas of Mwingi East have
been covered in the immunisation programme. He added that the
immunization will be held monthly to ensure all targeted sect members
are inoculated. "We have not faced any serious resistance during our
operation due to the cooperation we are getting from the provincial
administration, who have provided use of police officers to enforce
the programme," said Munyoki.

He added that not only were the Kavonokya children being forcefully
immunized, but plans were underway to arrest and charge them in court
for violating children rights to access health care. The immunization
and the forceful treatment for members of the Kavonokya sect came days
after the Health authorities in Eastern Province proposed the
proscribing of the sect for putting the health of their adherents at
risk.

The provincial public health officer Carol Ndegwa made the demand in
Mwingi when she was the chief guest during the world toilets day
celebrations at Yongooni village in Nuu division of Mwingi East on
Saturday [26 Nov 2011]. She said 11 children died of measles after
their Kavonokya sect parents failed to take them for medication or
immunization, as it was allegedly against their faith.

She said it was the constitutional right of all Kenyans to have good
health and access to medical care. She warned that people who violate
the constitution by denying children access to health care on account
of religion would be arrested and prosecuted.

In early September [2011], police officers raided the home of a
Kavonokya sect adherent in Mwingi East district and rescued 3 sickly
children whom they forcefully took to hospital. A contingent of police
officers led by Mwingi OCS Jonathan Wafula was summoned to the home of
Mbevo Musili in Kyamwenze village in Mui division by the assistant
chief Julius Musyoka Mukiti after the brother of the sick children had
passed away as a result of measles infection on the previous day. The
Ngoo assistant chief had summoned the police after he earlier stormed
the home and stopped the burial of the Mui Secondary school student,
insisting that he would only issue a burial permit after the
deceased's 3 other sick siblings were taken for medical attention.

[Byline: Misembi Nzengu]

--
Communicated by:
FluTrackers.com
http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/

[Mwingi district is one of the 71 districts of Kenya, located in that
country's Eastern province. The district has a population of almost
304 000 303 (1999 census). Mwingi can be located in the interactive
map of Kenya's Eastern province at:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=M ... CDUQ8gEwAA.
- Mod.CP]

MEASLES UPDATE 2011 (44)
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Uganda (multi-districts)
Date: Tue 6 Dec 2011
Source: Sunday Monitor [edited]
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/ ... index.html


Government issues national measles alert
----------------------------------------
The Ministry of Health yesterday announced that there is a national
measles outbreak in eastern, central, and western Uganda, warning the
public to report suspected cases early.

The director-general of health services in the ministry, Dr Jane Ruth
Aceng, said in a statement that they have identified cases in Bududa,
Bukedea, Bushenyi Kabarole, Kampala, Rakai, Ntungamo, Luweero,
Namayingo, Nakasongola, and Namutumba districts.

The contagious disease was first suspected in Namayingo in November
[2011] after a total of 112 children were admitted with measles
symptoms. To curb the airborne disease, Dr Aceng said they had opened
up a measles unit at the National Referral Hospital, Mulago, and other
upcountry hospitals and health centres to attend to any reported
cases. She warned the public to "avoid and immediately take any
suspected measles cases to the nearest health facility."

Although reported cases of measles in Uganda have declined by over 90
per cent, due in part to the initiation of nationwide vaccination
campaigns in 2003, it continues to claim more lives of children than
any other vaccine-preventable disease.

Dr Edward Mwesigwa, the Bushenyi district health officer, said 4 cases
had been identified in that district. He identified the type of
measles as German rubella [that is, German measles caused by Rubella
virus], which broke out 2 weeks ago before they reported the case to
the Ministry of Health. They sent samples and the disease was
confirmed, he said. [It is presumed that the measles cases reported
elsewhere in the country have been caused by measles virus infection,
and not by rubella virus. - Mod.CP]

Measles is highly contagious and can rapidly spread among children who
are not immunised. While measles does not kill, it can cause
blindness, malnutrition, deafness or pneumonia.

In Ntungamo, Mr Rodgers Kizito, the district cold chain officer --
responsible for immunisation services -- said there was one case of
measles in the district early November in Rweikiniro Sub-county. The
victim is said to have contracted the measles in Kampala. "She was
treated and she recovered; none of her family members contracted the
disease," Mr Kizito said, adding that there is a large number of
children in Ntungamo who are not immunised which increases their
susceptibility to measles.

(byline: Risdel Kasasora)

--
communicated by:
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http://www.ugandamission.net/aboutug/map1.html. - Mod.CP]

MEASLES UPDATE 2011 (45)
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[1] Angola (Zaire)
Date: Wed 14 Dec 2011
Source: Angop Sante, AngolaPress [In French, trans. & edited by
mod.CP]
http://www.portalanop.co.ao/motix/fr_fr ... 60c39.html

Measles epidemic under control
------------------------------
The health authorities in the twn of Mbanza Kongo, the capital of
Zaire province de, declared on Tuesday [13 Dec 2011] that the measles
epidemic which had affected the town since August was now under
control. The outbreak had been responsible for 8 deaths.

In a statement to Angop Manuel Salvado, Director of the Infectious
Disease Department of the Municipal Hospitaal of Mbanza Kongo, stated
that 379 measles cases had been admitted since the beginning of
August, 262 of whom were children under 5 years old.

In view of this situation the hospital had been obliged to transfer
patients with other illnesses to the Provincial Hospital, and to
reserve a ward for the treatment of measles patients. At the present
time 23 measles patients, comprising 2 adults and 21 children, are
receiving treatment.

--
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[An interactive map showing the location of Mbanza Kongo can be
accessed at:
http://www.epictrip.com/map/Mbanza-Kong ... 85930.html.
- Mod.CP]

*****

[2] Uganda (Moyo)
Date: Thu 15 Dec 2011
Source: Daily Monitor [edited]
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/ ... index.html

Measles outbreak in Moyo
------------------------
A four-year-old boy in Moyo District has been confirmed as having
measles and his one-year old sister, also showing signs of the
disease. Moyo was among 14 districts identified with prevalence of the
disease. However, health workers in Gimara Sub-county where the case
was confirmed, say the family of the boy has moved to Jinja District.

The district disease surveillance officer, Mr Simon Amudra, said
measles can affect people of any age group but it is more severe among
children under five because they have low body immunity. Health
officials said if the disease spreads, it would become unmanageable
because the district lacks drugs for managing the symptoms.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease which can be prevented
through vaccination. “We don’t have drugs for treating measles but
we only manage the signs and symptoms,” Mr Amudra said. The district
health officer, Dr Jimmy Opigo, said there is a need to vaccinate all
the children in the district below the age of five to prevent further
infections.

(By Martin Okudi and Felix Warom Okello)

--
Communicated by:
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[Moyo district can be located by accessing the HealthMap interactive
map of Uganda via: http://healthmap.org/r/1xLi. - Mod.CP]

MEASLES UPDATE 2012 (03)
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Africa
-------
[1] Congo DR (Ubundu)
Date: Tue 3 Jan 2012
Source: Radio Okapi (Kinshasa) [In French, trans. & edited by CP]
http://radiookapi.net/actualite/2012/01 ... ore-112269

Ubundu: children dying every day from measles since October
----------------------------------------------------
Since October [2011], children are dying every day from measles in the vicinity of Ubundu [Orientale province] of the Democratic Repubic of Congo [Congo DR] which is located 125 km from Kisangani. This information was communicated to Radio Okapi on Tue 3 Jan 2012, by the staff of the local NGO [non-governmental organisation] Good Shepherd. The Chief Medical Officer of Health confirmed the extent of the outbreak but disputed the number of fatalities.

The head of the Good Shepherd organisation, Anthony Musemena, claims he had attended the funeral of three children, aged seven, four and three years, on Fri 30 Dec 2011. "Innocent children are dying in large numbers at a rate of two, three or even five children a day after the outbreak of measles," said Antoine Musemena, stating that this requires the political and administrative authorities to address the issue.

The Obundu Distinct surgeon, Dr Lukusa, acknowledged that since the end of November a few cases of measles had been reported accompanied by several deaths. Sick children are being taken care of without payment through the intervention of the international NGO IRC [International Red Cross]. According to Dr. Lukusa, a mass vaccination campaign will have to be be organized to prevent further spread of the spread of the disease. This part of the Eastern Province [Orientale province], around Maniema, is near where a measles epidemic raged a few months ago.

--
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[According to Radio Okapi there have been more than 100 000 cases of measles recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo since January 2011, and MSF [Medecins san Frontieres] are calling for an emergency vaccination programme against measles.

In Kongolo 119 new cases of measles were recordedrecorded in one week, and around 3000 measles cases including 40 deaths have occurred over the past two and a half months in Mwene Ditu

Orientale province is located in the east of Congo DR. A map of Congo DR can be accessed at: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/africa/c ... _pol98.jpg. - Mod.CP]


*****
[2] Congo DR (Faradje)
Date: Thu 12 Jan 2012
Source: Allvoices.com [edited]
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-ne ... in-the-drc

Measles reached a sixth province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Congo DR)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
After an investigation conducted from 27 to 29 Dec 2011 in the Faradje health zone, in Eastern Province, the Médecins Sans Fontières (MSF) NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) confirmed the presence of measles in that area, according to an OCHA press release on Wed (11 Jan 2012). During the last trimester of 2011, there had been 210 suspected cases with 3 deaths in Faradje health zone. MSF has trained some nurses and provided some medicine to the health area for care cases, according to the same press release. In April 2011, the DRC minister of Public Health, Victor Makwenge Kaput, recognized the reappearance of measles in the country. More than 16 000 suspected case of measles had been identified from January to February 2011 throughout the country, with 107 deaths [among] 194 positive cases. In April, the measles epidemic was affecting mainly health zones in five provinces off CongoDR: Katanga, Maniema, South- Kivu, Eastern and Western Kasai. Now, measles reached a sixth province -- Eastern Province (Orientale province).

(By Jean-Rene_Bompolonga)

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MEASLES UPDATE 2012 (04)
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India (AP)
Date: Thu 19 Jan 2012
Source: IBN Live.in.com India [edited]
http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/n ... 52659.html


Measles outbreak reported from Arunachal district
-------------------------------------------------
With the detection of at least 30 cases, a measles outbreak has been reported in the remote villages of East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. The worst affected villages in the district are Namchar Bagang and Soshi Bagang, around 17 kilometres from Chayangtajo, the circle headquarter, official sources said here today. To remain isolated from other infected people, villagers have been forced to take shelter in makeshift accommodation in the deep forest, they said. A voluntary health camp was held at Chayangtajo on Sunday [15 Jan 2012] and a team of doctors also went to various villages and gave medications to infected children. The team would visit every household to reach out to all the villagers, sources informed. Suspicious cases of malaria and viral cough were also detected, said Dr B Gara of General Hospital, Naharlagun.

Sources say the anti-measles vaccination campaign team is yet to reach the headquarters, and in the interior areas it is worse as children are not vaccinated against the dreaded viral disease. Even the Measles Catch-Up Campaign 2011, which was launched across the state last 28 November, is yet to begin in the district, officials added.

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[Arunachal Pradesh is located in the far north east corner of India. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma, Bhutan, and China. A map of East Kameng district can be accessed at http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/arunach ... kameng.htm. - Mod.CP]

MEASLES UPDATE 2012 (08)
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*****

Angola (Songo)
Dare: Fri 17 Fwb 2012
Source: Agola Sante [In French, machine translation, edited]
http://www.portalangop.co.ao/motix/fr_f ... 1aa0d.html


Outbreak of measles in Songo
----------------------------
SONGO: Health authorities in the municipality of Songo, in the province of Uige (north), according to a local source on Thursday, are organising campaigns for routine immunization against measles in some [surrounding] towns and villages to prevent the disease ravaged city of Uige.

On the same day the Angop news agency reported that Baya Teca Bernardo, head of the Public Health and Endemic Diseases Control in Songo, has indicated that in addition to this routine campaign, the health authorities will also carry out supplementary immunisation during the period 24 to 26 Feb 2012.

"There are cases of measles in the city of Uige. So far there have been none in Songo but to as also against other endemic diseases, it is essential to continue routine measles vaccination."

Katondi Imasa, head of the Municipal Department of Health, stated that such campaigns had been conducted in the localities of Denga, Quimussongo, common Kinvuenga.

The municipality of Songo, with an estimated population of 44 000 inhabitants, is located 40 kilometres from the city of Uige, which is the capital of the province of the same name.

--
communicated by:
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MEASLES UPDATE 2012 (09)
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Afghanistan (West)
Date: Tue 21 Feb 2012
Source: Los Angeles Times [edited]
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_n ... ldren.html

Measles outbreak kills at least 20 Afghan children
------------------------------------------
KABUL: Health officials Tuesday [21 Fb 2012] reported a deadly measles outbreak in rural western Afghanistan that they said was compounded by severe winter weather hampering access to the area. At least 20 children have died of of measles and pneumonia in Ghor and Badghis provinces, according to Afghanistan's Health Ministry and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Health officials urged vaccinations for all children ages 9 months to 15 years, especially for those living in the affected areas and surrounding provinces. But in rural Afghanistan, parents are sometimes reluctant to have their children vaccinated because of an abundance of conspiracy theories about the shots. Some think healthcare providers are spies, or that the vaccines are meant to sicken people or will result in sterilisation.

As the outbreak has grown more serious, Afghan authorities and the WHO set up five temporary clinics and vaccinated more than 3600 children in the outbreak zone, while treating more than 6000 patients, health officials
said.

Measles and complications arising from it are among the leading causes of child mortality in Afghanistan. The disease is completely preventable through vaccines, but the overall rate of immunization remains low, particularly in the countryside and in areas hard hit by the insurgency.

--
Communicated by:
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http://www.soschildrensvillages.ca/News ... k-141.aspx

Vaccinations for Children Urgent after Afghan Measles Outbreak
------------------------------------------------------
Severe weather and a low immunization cover combined with a measles outbreak has lead to a World Health Organization (WTO) call for all Afghan children to be vaccinated. According to a recent update from the WHO office in Afghanistan, children have died due to measles and pneumonia in the two western provinces of Ghor and Baghdis.

The outbreak of the disease has led the agency to issue a statement that "Measles is fully preventable by a proven safe vaccination. We call on all Afghans to vaccinate their children." Measles is a highly infectious disease that occurs through the spread of nasal and oral fluids and causes complications and deaths, even in previously healthy individuals. It is one of the leading causes of death among young children even though a safe vaccine is available.

WHO and the Afghan public health ministry had set up temporary clinics to help contain the outbreak and administer the two doses of measles vaccine as recommended by WHO. Two are recommended as about 15 per cent of vaccinated children fail to develop immunity from the first dose.

So far, more than 6200 patients were treated by the medical emergency teams, and over 3600 measles vaccinations were administered. The WHO also stated that "This outbreak confirms that the overall immunisation coverage remains low, with disparities throughout Afghanistan, particularly between rural and urban areas, secure and insecure zones."

The WHO estimated that about 30 million cases and over 700 000 deaths from measles occur annually in developing countries. Most deaths follow complications such as pneumonia, croup and diarrhoea, and are also frequently associated with malnutrition.

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India (Bhopal)
Date: Sun 26 Feb 2012
Source: Times of India, Bhopal [edited]
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city ... 039691.cms

Measles outbreak in Nalkheda village
-------------------------------
BHOPAL: With the advent of summer season, measles cases in the city have hit a yearly high. Fifty children were administered care after the disease was reported from Nalkheda village in Berasia here on Saturday [25 Feb 2012]

According to district chief medical and health officer (CMHO) Dr Pankaj Shulka, "About 50 children are suffering from measles in the village and an emergency team has been formed to tackle the outbreak of the disease." Health officials collected blood samples from the nearby areas after the CHMO visited the village on Saturday [25 Feb 2012]. However, according to the health workers, the cases of measles were not severe among the children as they had been immunised previously [presumably with a single dose of vaccine - Mod.CP]. Health officials said that measures are in place to bring the disease under control. Parents have been meanwhile asked to keep the affected children away from school. "This will prevent spreading of disease to other students," said a local resident.

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MEASLES UPDATE 2012 (11)
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*****

[1] Yemen
Date: Mon 5 Mar 2012
Source: IRIN [edited]
http://www.irinnews.org/Report/95010/YE ... les-deaths

Surge in measles deaths
-----------------------
SANA'A: Measles has killed 126 children in Yemen since mid-2011, a consequence of the breakdown of basic health services during the year-long political crisis. In response to the big increase in reported cases and deaths due to measles, the Yemeni government has appealed for international assistance and an outbreak-response vaccination campaign will begin in the hardest-hit regions on 10 Mar 2012.

"It's very sad that we were talking about elimination in 2010, and now we are dealing with an outbreak," said Arwa Baider, a child health programme officer at the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The latest statistics from the Health Ministry at the end of February report that 3767 cases of measles have been confirmed, resulting in 126 deaths, since mid-2011. By comparison, in the 3 years from the beginning of 2007 until the end of 2009, the Ministry reported a total of 211 cases and no deaths due to measles.

Seventy per cent of these cases, and all of the deaths, were among children under 5 years of age. Most of the cases and deaths have occurred in the past 4 months. Measles has been reported across the country, but has been concentrated in Abyan, Aden, Al Bayda, Shabwa, Dhamar, Lahj, Amran, and Sa'dah governorates.

"The disease is spreading fast, reaching highly populated areas as well as areas with high levels of acute malnutrition," Geert Cappelaere, a representative of UNICEF in Yemen, told IRIN. "There is a very valid concern of many more deaths if a massive country-wide immunization campaign is not started immediately."

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), measles outbreaks can be particularly deadly in countries recovering from conflict. Damage to health infrastructure and health services interrupts routine immunization, and overcrowding in residential camps increases the risk of infection.

"The outbreak is a direct result of a decrease in routine immunization services during 2011; which is a direct result of the 2011 conflicts," added Cappelaere. In conflict-affected areas doctors reported being unable to deliver vaccinations because they were stopped at checkpoints, short of staff, or the refrigerated vaccines spoiled due to electricity cuts. In July 2011, WHO reported that fuel shortages had disrupted the cold chain supply system, resulting in the closure of 30 per cent of immunization facilities.

Immunization rates also decreased in some areas, such as Abyan, due to a "resurgence of radical religious views -- negative views -- about vaccination," said the Ministry of Health's director-general of family health, Ali Jahhaf. "Radical religious groups say that vaccination is not needed, it's against God's will and so on. Some communities believe this and started to resist or not accept vaccination. This is one of the reasons why in those areas we see pockets of lower vaccination coverage."

Jahhaf added that the political crisis and armed confrontations of 2011 had increased the "immunity gap", or the number of children who are not immunized, to a level large enough to cause outbreaks. "Our routine coverage is now not up to the level where you can have general community immunity."

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. Most measles-related deaths are caused by complications associated with the disease, more common in children under the age of 5. Complications include blindness, encephalitis, severe diarrhoea and dehydration, ear infections, and severe respiratory infections such as pneumonia.

In Yemen, the measles crisis is more acute because of the country's high levels of malnutrition. Severe measles is more likely to develop among poorly nourished children, whose weakened immunity leaves them vulnerable to the complications caused by measles. According to UNICEF, 58 per cent of Yemeni children are stunted and are chronically malnourished -- the second highest rate in the world after Afghanistan. In the worst-affected parts of the country, 30 per cent of children suffer from acute malnutrition, a level twice as high as the internationally recognized emergency threshold, and on a par with parts of southern Somalia.

The Yemeni government has appealed for international assistance to help the country cope with its humanitarian crisis. In January prime minister Mohammed Basindwa toured Gulf capitals to appeal for humanitarian aid during Yemen's political transition. In response to the measles outbreaks, UNICEF in partnership with the Ministry of Health, WHO, and the US Agency for International Development, will launch the first phase of an outbreak-response vaccination campaign on 10 March in 7 of the worst-affected governorates: Abyan, Aden, Lahj, Shabwa, Dahmar, Al Bayda, and Sa’dah. The second phase of the campaign will broaden vaccination across the country, but is dependent on additional funding. The cost of vaccinating 8 million children is about USD 9 million.

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[The HealthMap interactive map of Yemen can be accessed at http://healthmap.org/r/01Gk. - Mod.CP]

******

[2] Taiwan (ex India)
Date: Sat 10 Mar 2012
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel [edited]
http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_ ... 1203100005


Taiwan reports year's first imported measles case
-------------------------------------------------
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has confirmed Taiwan's first imported measles case this year, which involves a Taiwanese American man who traveled from India to Taiwan for a family reunion in February 2012. The 21 year old university student in India flew to Taiwan on 22 Feb 2012 on a Thai Airways flight he boarded in Bangkok, the transit stop of his journey from India to Taiwan, according to a CDC statement released on Friday. The man came down with a fever the next day, and then started to notice a skin rash. It was confirmed he had contracted measles on 8 Mar 2012, the statement said. The man has now recovered, it added.

Quarantine inspectors believed that the man had been infected with the measles virus in India. CDC deputy director general Chow Jih-haw said the CDC had contacted 3 passengers who had been sitting close to the patient on the Thai Airways flight, 25 medical personnel, and people the patient had come into contact with while undergoing emergency medical treatment, as well as the patient's family members. So far none of the people had developed any symptoms of measles, he said.

However, because measles is more highly contagious than influenza, the CDC has warned the relevant health authorities to pay attention to the condition of the travelers who had been sitting close to the student when they reached their final destination, Chow added.

Meanwhile, the CDC is monitoring the health of a Thai traveler who is now still in Taiwan, he said. In addition, the CDC also found that the Taiwanese American patient boarded an express train bound for Kaohsiung at 4 p.m. on 24 Feb in Taipei, and disembarked at a station in Yunlin County. People who had also taken the train are reminded to monitor their health and be on the alert for a possible infection. A self-examination period of 18 days (to end on 13 March) is recommended, the CDC said.

Measles, also called rubeola, is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by a virus. It causes a skin rash all over the body and flu-like symptoms, including a fever, cough, and runny nose.

(byline: Chen Ching-fang and Elizabeth Hsu)

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A map of Taiwan can be accessed at http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/tw.htm. - Mod.CP]

[The number of countries reporting new outbreaks of measles is in decline in relation to renewed emphasis on all-inclusive vaccination programmes.

However, a consequence of the decline in measles vaccination (employing the almost universal triple MMR vaccine) may be an increased prevalence of of rubella virus infection and a concomitant incidence of congenital rubella syndrome. This situation is discussed in a letter to the editor of Eurosurveillance 2012; 17(10), 08 March from T Derrough, S Bacci, and P L Lopalco: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArt ... leId=20106. - Mod.CP]

MEASLES UPDATE 2012 (12)
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In this update:
[1] Pakistan (Punjab)
[2] Pakistan (Khyber PakhtunKhwa)
[3] Pakistan (Khyber PakhtunKhwa/Swat)

*****

[1] Pakistan (Punjab)
Date: Thu 15 Mar 2012
Source: The Express Tribune [edited]
http://tribune.com.pk/story/350084/vira ... -reported/


Viral disease: 5 measles cases reported
-----------------------------------
5 cases of measles were reported from Basti Sharaf Shah near Kahirpur Tamewali in Bahawalpur district during the last week. The affected children, all residents of Chak 24, were 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8 years of age.

According to Mohammad Younis, a Health Department vaccinator, a report has been sent to the Health Department. He said so far only 5 cases were reported. He said that all the children in the area had been vaccinated at the proper time. He said the minimum age for measles vaccination was 9 months. He said 3 of the children had been in Cholistan area with their parents for some time, before which, he claimed, the children had been vaccinated.

District Health Officer Dr Saeed Asghar told The Express Tribune that a Health Department team had found out that the children had been treated by a quack, Mohammad Ashraf, in the recent past. He said they had found that Ashraf, who owned a medical store, had been illegally treating people. He said police were looking for the man.

(By Kashif Zafar)

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[Bahawalpur district can be located in the map of Punjab at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahawalpur_District. - Mod.CP]

*****
[2] Pakistan (Khyber PakhtunKhwa)
Date: Tue 13 Mar 2012
Source: WatchGeoNews, APP report [edited]
http://m.geo.tv/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=39506


Measles posing outbreak threat in parts of Khyber PakhtunKhwa
-------------------------------------------------------------
Deficiency [lack] of measles vaccine in Chitral and Malakand is posing a threat to control of the disease. The health department has declared the 2 areas as sensitive.

Deputy Director of Anti-Polio campaign Health department Dr Jan Baz Afridi said here on Monday [12 Mar 2012] that there are possibilities of outbreaks of measles in other parts of the province as well. However, children in Malakand and Chitral are the more vulnerable. He said that the health department is vaccinating children against the disease but deficiency [lack] of vaccine is creating problems. He urged the provincial government to take emergency measures and provide the vaccines so that the outbreak of the measles could be averted.

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[A map of the districts of Khyber PakhtunKhwa proving can be accessed at: http://www.nrdf.org.pk/maps/132-map-ofm ... map-of-kpk. - Mod.CP]

******
[3] Pakistan (Swat)
Date: Sun 18 Mar 2012
Source: The Express Tribune [edited[
http://tribune.com.pk/story/351471/heal ... s-disease/


Outbreak of measles, the ‘mysterious disease’
--------------------------------------
An outbreak of measles in a remote village in Swat [District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province] has created panic among locals, who are adamant their children have become victims of a ‘mysterious disease’, despite assurances by doctors.

The outbreak was reported in Sar Sardarey village of Mangalwar Union Council (UC), from where dozens of children were brought to Saidu Teaching Hospital in neighbouring Mingora. A villager whose 5 children are being treated for the disease at the teaching hospital, claimed that his children’s condition was critical. “They keep vomiting and haven’t slept for days. God knows what this disease is and what will become of my children,” he said. The children’s symptoms include vomiting, high fever, fatigue and red spots and rashes, all of which are symptoms of measles, said a doctor at the Saidu Teaching Hospital.

Rejecting the rumours, he said: “The outbreak is of measles and not some mysterious disease”. In a majority of cases, the children were infected by measles because immunisation campaigns could not be carried out in the area due to militancy, the doctor said. The lack of awareness among parents is also [allowing] the disease to spread.

There is no hospital for the entire union council [an administrative division], which has a population of 22 000, the majority of whom live below the poverty line. Villagers complained that due to the lack of medical facilities, they had to walk for over 4 hours to reach the teaching hospital in Mingora, some 20 kilometres from the union council. “There is no road and we had to walk for hours in 4-5 feet of snow to reach the hospital,” said a villager, who had brought his nephew in for treatment.

Executive District Officer Health for Swat rejected the claim that medical facilities were not available in the villages. He said after cases of measles were reported, a number of medical teams equipped with medicines had been sent. A team of doctors from the World Health Organisation based in Islamabad is going to Swat to collect samples from the infected children to determine the nature of the disease.

(By Fazal Khaliq)

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MEASLES UPDATE 2012 (13)
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India (Jammu & Kasmir)
Date: Sat 23 Mar 22012
Source: Greater Kashmir [edited]
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2012 ... age-69.asp

Mysterious disease outbreak in Poonch village
--------------------------------------
SURANKOTE (Poonch): At least six children have reportedly died due to an outbreak of a mysterious disease in a remote village of this border district. Reports said that the epidemic has spread in the Phaglla village of Surankote infecting more than two dozen children in last three days. Though officials confirmed the death of only four children, the locals claimed that six of them have lost their lives so far, while condition of some others is critical.

The village is situated 16 kms from Poonch and [without] road connectivity. The district administration has dispatched a team of doctors and para-medics to the village to take stock of the situation but there was no confirmation about the nature of the disease. "At least six children have died so far due to the mysterious disease in the last 48 hours", Wiladat Hussain, Saparanch of the area told Greater Kashmir over the phone.

He claimed that a local resident lost his two children -- a 2 year old and a 5 year old. Similarly, two children of another local resident died ass a result if this epidenic. He identified another two victims in another local family.

The Sarpanch claimed that over 100 children in the village and its adjoining areas have been infected and are suffering from severe fever and skin irritation. Block Medical Officer of the area, who was camping in the village, confirmed death of four children. He said that a team of doctors has been constituted by the department and all the pediatricians serving in various hospitals of the district have been directed to report to Surankote hospital.

When contacted, DDC Poonch Ajeet Kumar Sahu also confirmed death of four children saying the disease has been preliminary identified as measles. "Due to the outbreak of measles in some areas of Surankote, 4 children have lost their lives, while 14 others were badly affected", the DDC said, adding that: "a high alert has been declared in the area to control the spread of the diseases". He said that a team of doctors has been sent to the area and all health institutions have been directed to ensure Measles vaccination for all the children of the area. "All this is being done on war footing", the DDC said.

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[Surankote is a tehsil (administrative division) in the Poonch district of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It occupies the Surankote valley, located between the Pir Panjal and Rattan Panjal ranges within the Himalayas. The valley comprises 43 villages. A map of Jammy and Kashmir can be accessed at: http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/jammuan ... strict.htm - Mod.CP]