Wüstenschiff

Hmm ist es nicht so, dass man, nach einmal Masern, geschützt ist?

MEASLES UPDATE 2012 (14)
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[1] Uganda (Kiruhra)
Source: Daily Monitor [edited]
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/ ... awqs8tz/-/

Kiruhura 19th district to file measles cases
------------------------------------
At least one person has been confirmed dead and 38 others hospitalised following an outbreak of measles in Kiruhura, the district health officials have said. The District Health Officer, Dr Ivan Kaggwa, said they received reports of the outbreak last week when one child had already died of the disease and they later ascertained that other 38 are affected.

He said measles has hit Kanyaryeru and Kinoni sub-counties in Nyabushozi County. The dead child was from Rwaburondo Village in Kinoni. Dr Kaggwa said in Kinoni, they have registered 30 cases, 6 cases in Kanoni and 2 in Kanyaryeru.

"We have taken the blood samples of these children to the Entebbe Virus Centre for testing but as a medical doctor, the signs tell me this is measles so we are doing all the best we can to see this disease does not spread further," Dr Kaggwa said. District officials suspect that the outbreak could be as a result of new immigrants in Rwoburondo in Kinoni Sub-county, who could have come with unimmunised children.

"In July last year [2011], more than 50 families were resettled in Rwoburondo Village in Kinoni where the epidemic has originated from. We suspect that these people had not immunised their children and this could be the origin of the disease," a source in the district, who did not want to be mentioned because it is not authorised to speak to the press, said.

Dr Kaggwa said they have routine immunisation at 46 centres in the district and that a measles case was last reported in the district in 2009. He added that the affected children are being treated in their homes to avoid further spread of the disease. Dr Kaggwa said they are going to seek permission from the Ministry of Health to carry out massive immunisation in the district before next month when there will be a national mass immunisation.

By Rajab Mukombozi)

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[A map of the districts of Uganda can be accessed at: http://www.ugandamission.net/aboutug/map1.html. - Mod.CP]

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[2] Yemen
Date: Fri 30 Mar 2012
Source: United Nations Examiner [edited]
http://www.examiner.com/united-nations- ... reak-yemen

Measles outbreak in Yemen
-----------------------
More than 150 children in Yemen under the age of 5 years have died from measles virus infection since the middle of 2011, the United Nations said Thursday [29 Mar 2012]. "A total of 3800 new measles cases were reported between January 2011 and early March 2012," according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs [OCHA]. "If left unchecked, the epidemic could infect an estimated 30 000 children and cause 5000 deaths per year."

The UN Central Emergency Response Fund authorized USD 5 million for an immunization program. Of that, the agency said, USD 2.6 million will come from the World Health Organization, and USD 2.4 will be budgeted by the UN Children's Fund [UNICEF]. "The steep increase in measles incidents over the last 3 and a half months is due to the decline in immunization coverage and disruption in access to basic social services in most parts of the country during the civil unrest," OCHA said earlier this month. "Mortality due to measles is already very high and will increase further, especially if compounded with a rise in acute watery diarrhea and increasing rates of malnutrition."

Many families in Yemen are on the run from the nation's internal warfare, the UN said. Among the dangers in Yemen, the UN said, are "car bombs and the use of cars in suicide attacks, numerous incidents of gunfire in Sana'a and Aden, assassinations and military operations, with many deaths and injuries. There is also an increase in the rhetoric of threats. Following the recent election of a new president, many actors are actively positioning for strength and political influence."

Measles "is spread by contact with droplets from the nose, mouth, or throat of an infected person," according to the U.S. National Library of Science. "Sneezing and coughing can put contaminated droplets into the air." Among the complications of measles, according to the U.S., are bronchitis, encephalitis, ear infection and pneumonia.

(By Michael McGuire)

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[This situation is probably about as bad as it can get. A map of Yemen, showing the locations of Sana'a (the capital) and the city of Aden can be accessed at: http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/coun ... ecolor.htm. - Mod.CP]

MEASLES UPDATE 2012 (17)
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Uganda (multidistricts)
Date: Thu 19 Apr 2012
Source: Daily Monitor [edited]
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/ ... aw12kfz/-/


Parents to blame for measles outbreak, say health workers
-------------------------------------------------
Health workers have blamed the outbreak of measles in 18 districts on parents’ failure to take their children for immunisation. A visit to the newly-opened Naguru Hospital revealed that more than 100 cases had been registered at the facility since 24 Feb 2012, with the majority of the affected children coming from Naguru, Kinawataka and Banda suburbs of Kampala. The officer in-charge of the pediatric ward, Uganda Friendship hospital-Naguru, Dr Justine Nalwadda, yesterday said many mothers are reluctant to take their children for immunisation.

“Since the facility opened, very few children have turned up for immunisation not because there are no children being born but parents are not keen and do not consider the dangers associated with failure to complete the dosage while men have left the responsibility to women,” Dr Nalwadda said. She also attributed the problem to lack of basic information on the killer immunisable diseases, especially among people in upcountry areas.

Data from the Ministry of Health shows that 3270 cases have so far been confirmed in Kampala, Namayingo, Jinja, Busia, Bugiri, Nebbi, Sheema, Wakiso, Iganga, Luuka, Lwengo, Masaka, Mayunge, Buikwe, Mityana, Koboko, Mitooma and Mbale districts.

But an official from the Ministry of Health, who declined to be named because he is not authorised to speak to the press, said there has been a problem of funding following the misuse of the GAVI [Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation] funds that was meant for immunisation programmes in the country. “The withdrawal of GAVI funds in 2006 created a funding shortage. Since then, the public education programmes as well as outreach programmes has reduced and immunisation has dropped drastically,” the source said.

According to the source, the spell led to a shortage of vaccines and shortage of facilities. The Parmanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Asuman Lukwago, said the ministry had mobilised money from development partners for special immunisatition activities set to begin on 26 May across the country, adding that the sensitisation programme will start next week.

“We are going to carry out a 5-day countrywide immunisation programme in response to these outbreaks. We already have the money with a deficit of about 3 billion Uganda SHs [USD 390 000] which we have requested for,” the PS said.

(By Agatha Ayebazibwe)

[A map showing the locations of the districts of Uganda can be accessed at: http://www.ugandamission.net/aboutug/map1.html. - Mod.CP]

MEASLES UPDATE 2012 (18)
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[1] Cameroon (North)
Date: Sun 15 Apr 2012
Source: Cameroon Tribune [in French, trans. Mod.BM, edited]
http://www.cameroon-tribune.cm/index.ph ... =3#contenu


Seven deaths per 2257 cases have been reported [in Cameroon] since early this year [2012] in the Far North. This revelation was made by Babila Akaou, general secretary of the governor's office of the Far North.

In 2011, the region registered 1627 cases of measles with 17 deaths. For this year [2012], the counter is already up to 2257, and the number of deaths is 7. This epidemic already involves 7 of the 28 health districts in the region.

This information was given on 11 Apr 2012 at the launch in Maroua of the 1st week's issue of shares of health, child and maternal nutrition (SASNIM). This campaign is ongoing until 15 Apr [2012] and addresses many diseases.

Through next Sunday [22 Apr 2012], doses of vaccine against polio will be administered to children aged 5 years and under, and those aged 9 months to 5 years will be vaccinated against measles. Vitamin A capsules will be administered to children 6 months to 5 years, while children from 1-5 years will be dewormed. Women who have just given birth will receive vitamin A drops. All this is free.

The authorities in charge of health have adopted 2 immunization systems: 1st to vaccinate in all health facilities; 2nd to vaccinate in public places such as markets, places of worship, and schools.

Dr. Rebecca Djao, the regional delegate of Public Health of the Far North, has seized this opportunity to educate parents about the dangers of diseases against which children must be vaccinated, namely polio and measles. She also drew attention to the importance of vitamin A and deworming of children. Judging from the jostling of parents, who after following these tips came to vaccinate their children, we can say that the message did not fall on deaf ears.

[Byline: Patrice Mbossa]

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[Hopefully, these 2 immunization strategies can cover many children quickly, because with 25 percent of districts involved in the epidemic, there is a high risk of it spreading to other districts of the region.

Parents must be educated about the importance of carrying their children to health centers as soon as possible. Traditional healers and religious leaders should also be involved in the fight against the epidemic.

The interactive HealthMap ProMED-mail map of Cameroon is available at: http://healthmap.org/r/01Jc. - Mods.BM/SC]

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[2] India (Orissa)
Date: Sun 29 Apr 2012
Source: Times of India [edited]
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city ... 917924.cms


At least 9 children have died in the past 15 days in Rayagada district's Kasipur block, which is feared to be afflicted by an outbreak of measles. The state health department collected blood samples of a few affected children on Saturday [28 Apr 2012] for a laboratory test. Kasipur, which often makes the news for poverty, malnutrition, diarrhoea, and cholera related deaths, has been witnessing a flurry of medical activities recently after the outbreak of measles at Salapash, Katraguda, and Railighati villages under Kudipari panchayat.

"Blood samples have been collected from at least 7 children, and those will be sent to the regional medical research centre in Bhubaneswar for tests to confirm whether the children are affected by measles," said the medical officer of Kasipur hospital, Saroj Kumar Naik, who went to the affected villages along with deputy director of health K K Rout and Rayagada CDMO K V S Chowdhury.

Villagers claim that while as many as 9 children aged between 6 months to 3 years have already succumbed to measles, scores more are affected at the 3 villages, which lie at a distance of about 80 km from the district headquarters town of Rayagada. Locals alleged that due to the inaccessibility of the villages, health officials never come to their villages and healthcare facilities are virtually non-existent in the areas.

"The children succumbed to the disease at the villages without medical attention. In the absence of proper medical facilities, people depend on traditional methods of treatment and are succumbing to diseases," said Narendra Jhodia of Salapash, which lies on the border of Rayagada and Kalahandi districts.

However, officials said only 3 and not 9 children have died of measles. "There have been 9 deaths in 3 villagers in the past 2 weeks but not all from measles. Till now, we suspect 3 deaths to be from measles. Around 12 children are suffering from fever, and a medical team is campaigning at the village," said Naik. "Presently, our 1st priority is to contain the disease. Creating awareness against the disease has been initiated, and re-immunization programmes have been launched at the periphery villages to ensure that the disease does not spread to other areas," he added.

According to the medical officer, while the inaccessibility of the villages is creating an obstacle for the health workers in regularly visiting the areas, people's faith on traditional methods of treatment is also causing problems in arresting the situation. "People agree to follow our advice to combat the disease but never follow it. They organize pujas and depend on sorcery to cure the disease instead of taking medicines. It is a common practice among the tribal community to conduct pujas for 7 days to cure a disease, and if they fail in their attempt, only then will they take the patient to a hospital, by which time it is often too late," the medical officer said.

--
Communicated by:
Kunihiko Iizuka

[Measles vaccine coverage (by a monovalent vaccine at 9 months of age) in India has been good, but measles incidence remains high in parts of India. Measles, even in previously healthy children, can be a serious illness requiring hospitalization. As many as one in 20 children with measles develops pneumonia, and about one child in every 1000 who get measles will develop encephalitis, which may leave a child deaf or even mentally retarded. In developing countries, where malnutrition and vitamin A deficiency are common, mortality from measles virus infection can be considerable. Sub-acute sclerosing pan-encephalitis (SSPE), a fatal degenerative disease of the central nervous system, can be a very rare consequence of measles infection early in life.

Rayagada is a municipality in Rayagada district in the Indian state of Orissa. It is the administrative headquarters of Rayagada district. A map of Koraput, Orissa, can be accessed at: http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/orissa/ ... oraput.htm. A ProMED-mail HealthMap can be found at http://healthmap.org/r/2i2v. - Mod.CP]

Nigeria - Masern
30.04.2012

2011 wurden ca. 27.700 Verdachtsfälle, 7.666 bestätigte Fälle und 194 Todesfälle gemeldet. Seit Jahresbeginn bis Mitte April 2012 wurden 4.863 Verdachtsfälle registriert, 81 Erkrankte sind verstorben. Fehlende Impfungen sollten gemäß den aktuellen STIKO-Empfehlungen nachgeholt werden. / Quelle: crm

Gruß
Birgitt

MEASLES UPDATE 2012 (19)
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Sudan (South Darfur)
Date: Fri 4 may 2012
Source: Radio badango [edited]
http://www.radiodabanga.org/node/29939

Measles outbreak kills 25 children in Gereida camp
-------------------------------------------
At least 25 children have died from measles during a recent outbreak in the Gereida camp in South Darfur. A camp official said there is a high rate of infection spreading amongst children. She appealed to humanitarian organisations, health officials and the World Health Organisation to immediately act to intervene and stop the disease from spreading and risking more lives.

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[Darfur is a region in western Sudan. An independent sultanate for several hundred years, it was incorporated into Sudan by Anglo-Egyptian forces in 1916. The region is divided into five federal states: Central Darfur, East Darfur, North Darfur, South Darfur and West Darfur. Because of the war in Darfur between Sudanese government forces and the non-Arab indigenous population, the region has been in a state of humanitarian emergency between 2003 and 2011.

A map of Darur can be accessed at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Map_o ... r_2011.png. - Mod.CP]

...was ist eignetlich aus deiner Impfumfrage geworden, Birgit?

Die - zeitlich unbegrenzte - Impfumfrage samt anschließender Diskussion hat sicherlich den ein oder anderen zum nachdenken angeregt. Die Beteiligung zeigt uns, dass es wohl für viele interessant ist, unterschiedliche Sichtweisen zum Thema Impfung an sich bzw. zu einzelnen Impfungen im speziellen zu erfahren.

Gruß
Birgitt

MEASLES UPDATE 2012 (21)
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Pakistan (North Waziristan)
Date: Mon 14 may 2012
Source: NaharMet, Agence France Presse report [edited]
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/4010 ... n-pakistan


Measles outbreak kills 12 children in Pakistan
----------------------------------------------
An outbreak of measles in part of Pakistan's lawless tribal northwest has killed 12 children in 3 weeks and is spreading due to a shortage of medicines, doctors said Monday [14 May 2012]. Doctor Mohammad Ali Shah, chief of the main hospital in Miranshah, the biggest town in North Waziristan, told Agence France Presse that military operations, power cuts and curfews meant there was a shortage of medicines [vaccine].

The restive and impoverished district bordering Afghanistan is Pakistan's most notorious Taliban and Al-Qaida stronghold, and hit frequently by U.S. drone strikes targeting Islamist militants. "For the past 3 weeks we are daily receiving 5-10 children suffering from measles," Shah said, adding that he would normally see only one or 2 deaths from the disease in a year. "We do not have proper storage for measles [vaccine] because of long power outages and curfews, and most of our stock expires due to these reasons." He urged the government to send mobile vaccination teams to the area and warned of a possible typhoid outbreak if action was not taken promptly. "Inoculation teams have not visited the area for a long time and that is the reason for the spread of such diseases," he said.

Measles is highly contagious and spread by a virus that is easily prevented by proper immunization but can be fatal. It caused nearly 140 000 deaths worldwide in 2010, according to the World Health Organization -- 95 percent in low income countries with poor health infrastructure. Another doctor, Mohammad Sadiq, said 12 children and a man had died from measles, and that there were up to 70 confirmed cases in hospital. Local government officials were not available to comment.

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http://www.irinnews.org/Report/95464/PA ... o-conflict

Measles outbreak linked to conflict
-----------------------------------
The recent outbreak of measles which claimed the lives of at least 12 children and one adult in Pakistan's North Waziristan's tribal agency is directly linked to conflict between militants and the army, according to local experts. ”Long curfews, road blockades and also the power cuts that take place mean the vaccines we receive expire," said Muhammad Ali Shah, who heads the main hospital in Miramshah, the headquarters of the agency. "The measles vaccine needs to be stored at a proper temperature.”

North Waziristan, a poor area bordering Afghanistan, is a stronghold of the Taliban and affiliated militants. It is largely inaccessible, which makes it difficult for vaccination teams to move and for other humanitarian organizations to operate safely. “We are basically on our own here,” Shah added, noting that it was unclear how many people were affected by the virus in remote mountainous areas.

According to official figures, healthcare facilities in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas -- made up of 7 agencies of which North Waziristan is one -- are poor, with only one doctor for every 6993 people. For the rest of the country the figure is 1225 people per doctor, scattered among the 33 hospitals in the territory. “Vaccination campaigns in our areas are frequently interrupted. The militancy here has affected us all, and this measles epidemic we hear of is the latest manifestation of this,” A 55-year-old villager said. "In my village of Hurmaz there are several sick children. We don’t know what they are suffering from -- though one has high fever and mottled skin,” he added, saying bad roads and a lack of transport had made it "very hard to take the children to a medical facility."

Experts say the situation raises questions about overall health policy. "Outbreaks of disease can be prevented only if, rather than a focus on polio alone, we concentrate on vaccinating against all preventable diseases," Anita Zaidi, Professor of Paediatrics at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, told IRIN. "This is also the only way to combat polio." Azmat Siddique, a doctor based at a clinic near Miramshah, said: "We need more help to tackle the problem." He said help was “unlikely to come”, given the situation in the agency. Jamil Wazir, an office assistant at a clinic in Peshawar, underscored the irony of the situation. “My sister’s 2-year-old son died from complications after contracting measles," he told IRIN. "Here, as part of my job at this clinic, I purchase dozens of measles vaccines to administer to children, so they are kept safe from such disease." According to the World Health Organization (WHO) more than 95 percent of measles deaths occur in low-income countries with weak health infrastructure.

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[The HealthMap interactive map of north Waziristan can be found at: http://healthmap.org/r/2mSG. - Mod.CP]

MEASLES UPDATE 2012 (22)
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In this update
[1] Uganda
[2] Sudan (Nile River)
[3] Pakistan (Fata)
[4] Pakistan (Karachi)

*****

[1] Uganda
Date: Wed 23 May 2012
Source: Daily Monitor [edited]
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/ ... index.html

The Ministry of Health this weekend [week ending 27 May 2012] is preparing to launch a mass immunisation campaign to combat an outbreak of measles which has spread from 18 to 46 districts. As of 30 Apr 2012, data from the Health Ministry showed that about 3270 children between 4 and 14 years had been recorded as suffering from measles in 18 districts.

But Ms Nakamatte has told Daily Monitor that: "To-date, 46 districts including Kampala, Namayingo, Jinja, Busia, Bugiri, Nebbi, Sheema, Wakiso, Iganga, Luuka, Lwengo, Masaka, Mayuge, Buikwe, Mityana, Koboko, Mitooma, Mbale, Bukomansimbi, Bukwo, Butaleja, Buvuma, Gulu, Kalungu, Kiryandongo, Kole, Mbarara, Namutumba, Rakai, Sironko, Buliisa, Buyende, Kalagala, Kamuli, Kanungu, Kiruhura, Luweero, Yumbe, Nakaseke, Ibanda, Kibaale, Kayunga, Bushenyi, Kyankwanzi, Budaka and Mukono have surpassed the measles epidemic threshold. We have not confirmed any deaths, but our data show an increase in new cases, with 630 measles cases recorded in May 2012 alone," she said.

The Ministry of Health says at least 42 per cent of measles cases are not vaccinated, with nearly all suspect cases in children below 9 months not vaccinated for measles, which has prompted an additional nationwide mass measles campaign that will be conducted from 26-28 May [2012].

Ms Catherine Ntabadde, the Uganda Red Cross Society spokesperson, said the exercise would target more than one million children in 14 districts that have been identified as the most affected by both polio and measles. These include Kampala, Hoima, Nebbi, Pallisa, Tororo, Jinja, Mbarara, among others.

[Byline: Agatha Ayebazibwe]

--
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ProMED-EAFR
<promed-eafr@promedmail.org>

[A total of 46/112 (41 percent) districts in Uganda are experiencing measles outbreaks, with nearly all the cases in children below 9 months being unvaccinated. A mass measles vaccination campaign targeting children below 5 years of age is, therefore, underway to control the outbreaks http://www.mediacentre.go.ug/details.ph ... tem=3D1693.

Maps of Uganda can be accessed at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Districts_of_Uganda andhttp://healthmap.org/r/22MK. - Mod.JFW]

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[2] Sudan (Nile River)
Date: Fri 25 may 2012
Source: Sudan Tribune [edited]
http://www.sudantribune.com/Measles-out ... onal,42706


Measles outbreak hits national service camp of students in northern Sudan
---------------------------------------------------------------
KHARTOUM: Nearly 40 students undergoing military training as part of mandatory national service in Sudan's northern state of Nile River have been quarantined after they contracted measles.

The measles outbreak started two days ago at the 49th Brigade camp of national service in the key town of Atbara, raising fears of further infections as well as concerns over health conditions in other camps. Rabi Ali Mohammed, the coordinator of national service in the state, , said that more than 30 students are suspected to have contracted measles and were therefore quarantined at Atbara Educational Hospital for further medical examination.

The national service administration in Sudan requires male students who sat for secondary schools exams to undergo arduous military training at camps in order to be able to join universities and qualify for future employment opportunities. Secondary school students are also required to wear military uniform during three years of study.

Students often complain of experiencing difficulties in the training as it takes place under unfavorable conditions and high temperature during the summer while parents tend to fret that their sons are too young to cope with military training. However, the national service official Rabie said that health conditions at the three camps in Atbara and Shendi, another key town in the state, were "under control."

Meanwhile, an official at the local ministry of health said that 37 cases of measles infections were reported to Atbara Hospital. He denied there were any death cases and described the situation of those infected as "stable". He further added that all student conscripts at the camp had been vaccinated.

--
Communicated by:
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[This situation indicates that measles immunisation in Sudan is far from comprehensive. Nile River province can be found in the HealthMap interactive map of Sudan at http://healthmap.org/r/2s7A. - Mod.CP]

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[3] Pakistan (Fata)
Date: Fri 25 May 20122
Source: Dawn newspaper [edited]
http://dawn.com/2012/05/25/measles-outbreak-in-fata/


Measles outbreak in Fata
---------------------
This concerns a measles outbreak in Fata, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan [20 May 2012]. The measles outbreak in Fata, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan is no doubt a matter of great concern. According to media reports, it has so far killed 12 children and the virus is set to affect more children in the region.

This is to inform the public that the ministry of inter-provincial coordination has recently held a meeting of National Steering Committee in which this matter has been taken up with great concern by the Federal Minister for inter-provincial coordination Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani. The Federal Minister, who is on an official visit to Geneva to attend the 65th World Health Assembly organised by WHO, has directed the officials of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) to enhance routine immunisation and make prolific efforts to tackle measles outbreak in the country.

In response to the report of 'loopholes' in the vaccination campaign, there is no such loophole in the campaign. The campaign is faced with several obstacles. Actually, the region where the measles outbreak has been reported is a war-torn area. The ongoing fight in the region has been constantly hindering the vaccination campaign. In addition, power outages and curfews are making it more difficult to carry out vaccination. Besides, there seems to be a campaign going on through private radio to spread misconception about the vaccination that the international community is injecting infidelity in the children of the tribal areas in the name of vaccination.

As regards the serious differences between the federal government and the provincial ones over the purchase of vaccines for measles and other diseases, the provinces are at absolute liberty to purchase vaccines for the above mentioned diseases. Lastly, the question of maintenance of cold chain for vaccines does not arise as ice-lined refrigerators are available in the nearby headquarters.

******
[4] Pakistan (Karachi)
Date: Tue 22 May 2012
Source: Pakistan today [edited]
http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/05 ... -outbreak/


Karachi at risk from measles outbreak
----------------------------
Karachi is presently exposed to a mini outbreak of measles with 20 to 25 children brought with the disease to Civil Hospital only, on daily basis, Prof. Ayesha Mehnaz, head of paediatrics department told APP [Associated Press Pakistan] on Monday [21 May 2012]. "Situation is no different in other hospitals," said the doctor, who is also a senior member of Pakistan Paediatric Association. In reply to a question, she agreed that a mini-epidemic of measles is registered every 3rd year in the city. "However, what is different this year is the time as measles, a viral infection reported during winters, is presently registered in summers," said Prof. Ayesha Mehnaz.

Measles is not only an acute illness that causes death and complication but also holds its long term impact as post measles diarrhoea, pneumonia, bronchiolitis, encephalitis, reactivation of tuberculosis and blindness due to vitamin A deficiency and malnutrition. Although cough, pneumonia and malnutrition are the common manifestations of the disease children inflicted with measles are generally not brought to hospitals as it is conventionally accepted that no medication is required for the disease and every child had to suffer from it sooner or later. It is only if and when the children suffering from measles develop complications that hospitals are approached, said senior child specialist Dr. Mobina Agboatwala.

Prof. Ayesha attributed the current outbreak of measles to poor routine immunization coverage in the country. Dr. Agboatwala did agree with her colleague, however, suggested that in case incidence rate of measles, owing to any reason may found to be high, the government must initiate "Mopping Up Exercise". Under this strategy all children belonging to neighbouring areas of the sites, where cases of measles were detected, be immediately vaccinated against the ailment. Those from the affected areas will get afflicted at one or the other point of time and there should be adequate provision for administering Vitamin A capsules to them, reverting risks of their getting partially or even totally blind besides death.

The doctors in response to another query did acknowledge that chickenpox and skin allergies were also somehow wrongly but quite frequently inferred as measles. Measles vaccines are prerequisite for all children around the world, at least once in a life time. Vaccination of our children against measles is all the more important as our country is endemic to it, they said. Since the peak season as a norm begins from January, parents must be persuaded to ensure that all children upto five years of age are immunized against the disease. "I also strongly recommend IgM (antibodies) assessment of all suspected cases of the disease," said Dr.Agboatwala.

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[Fata and Karachi can be located by accessing the interactive HealthMap of Pakistan at: http://healthmap.org/r/2s7B. - Mod.CP]

MEASLES UPDATE 2012 (23)
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In this update
[1] Israel
[2] Somalia
[3,4] Pakistan (Sindh); (national prediction)

*****

[1] Israel
Date: Mon 4 Jun 2012
Source: Haaretz.com [edited]
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/af ... l-1.434340


After years of calm, measles cases spike in northern Israel
-----------------------------------------------------------
There has been a significant increase in cases of measles in northern Israel, according to recent research carried out by Israel's Health Ministry. The study by the ministry's epidemiology department found 96 cases of measles by the end of May 2012, compared with only 4 cases of the disease in the same period in 2011, 14 in 2010, and 2 in 2009. Some 63 of the cases this year -- 65 per cent -- were reported in the north, while 20 per cent were in Tel Aviv -- some 20 per cent -- eight cases in the centre of the country, four in Haifa, one in Jerusalem, and one in southern Israel.

The reported increase comes after four years of calm. In contrast to the previous country-wide outbreak, the current spike is concentrated in northern Israeli towns where vaccination rates stand at less than 90 per cent, among refugees communities in Tel Aviv, and especially among babies who [are] not yet one year old -- the minimum vaccination age in Israel.

In light of the outbreak, the Health Ministry is now completing immunization programs among populations that refused to be vaccinated in the past, most of which are from small towns in the north. Family members of those suffering from measles are also eligible for preventative vaccination. A large part of those who refuse to be vaccinated do so on ideological grounds, also citing possible side effects and exposure to toxins.

The minimum vaccination age for measles will also be reduced to 6 months among refugee populations, to help curb the outbreak. Vaccinations will also be provided to family members of measles sufferers. "The Health Ministry also subsidizes vaccinations for refugees who are not covered by Israel's national health insurance law, and a vaccination program is being carried out in all day care centers of refugee children," the health ministry said.

According to the preliminary results of a new program which documents vaccination programs among babies in Israeli towns, less than 90 per cent of the population are vaccinated in a number of Israeli towns, which raises the risk of outbreak of infectious diseases, such as measles. Northern Israeli towns with vaccination rates of less than 90 per cent include Yodfat, Klil, Beit Keshet, Yesud HaMa'ala, Merom Galil, Harduf, Alonei Abba, Tivon, Binyamina, Pardes Hanna. Low vaccination rates were also found in 3 southern Bedouin towns -- Hura, Tarabin, and al-Atrash -- and in a number of mainly ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods in Jerusalem.

Overall vaccination rates in Israel stand at 94 per cent. In 2010, the World Health Organization adopted a vaccination rate target of at least 90 per cent of the population in countries across the world, and a target of 80 per cent for initial vaccinations for children. The minimum age for initial vaccinations for children in Israel is one.

[byline: Dan Even]

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[2] Somalia
Date: Fri 8 Jun 2012
Source: Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) [edited]
http://www.msf.org/msf/articles/2012/06 ... -cases.cfm


Somalia: steep increase in measles cases
----------------------------------------
Measles is a major killer in Somalia and it's easily preventable. Vaccination -- with high coverage and proper vaccine management -- is critical to saving lives in Somalia. MSF asks all authorities to support emergency vaccination programmes throughout Somalia.

A woman came to the Medecins Sans Frontieres supported hospital 2 days ago with 6 of her children. All 7 of them have measles. She says she knows the signs for measles but she didn't come in earlier because she lives too far away and transport is expensive. She first tried traditional medicine -- applying burns to various areas of the body -- and only came to the hospital when her youngest child, a one year old boy named Jakob, died. Left untreated, measles can be deadly, especially for young children. With in-patient medical care most patients survive, but the best gains are made in prevention through vaccination.

All over Somalia, measles has been flaring up, especially over the past 6 months. MSF has treated 4288 patients for measles since January, the vast majority of them children, in its health centers across Somalia. [Total number of patients treated for measles in 4 regions over Jan-May 2012 period (305; 467; 237; and 3222 cases) and in 1 region over Jan-Apr 2012 period (57 cases)]. Even in areas where medical authorities say vaccination campaigns are effective, MSF is still treating dozens of patients every day. In Burco, an area unaffected by conflict that routinely has vaccination campaigns, MSF has received 586 measles patients since the start of the year. Such prevalence could not be possible if there was adequate vaccination coverage.

Vaccination requires not only good coverage, which should reach over 90 per cent to stem the spread, but also requires that the vaccines are transported and stored at the right temperature. That could help explain outbreaks in areas declared vaccinated. Even more worrying, though, are areas where authorities refuse vaccination outright. In several locations MSF is denied permission to vaccinate with the explanation that higher up authorities simply won't allow it.

Measles has raged across Somalia for the past few months and many of MSF's wards have been full of infected children. A woman sits on a floor mat in MSF's makeshift measles ward surrounded by her 6 children waiting for them to be well enough to travel. Her family was hit, like most, by the drought last year. They lost about half their livestock but they were recovering until measles hit their village.

In October 2011, two MSF aid workers, Montserrat Serra and Blanca Thiebaut, were abducted in Dadaab refugee camp in Northern Kenya while carrying out emergency assistance for the Somali population. They remain in captivity, and MSF, while still responding to acute crisis requesting live saving interventions, has put on hold the opening of any non-emergency projects in Somalia until their release.

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[3] Pakistan (Sindh)
Date: Sat 9 Jun 2012
Source: The News International [edited]
http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-52364 ... s-in-Sindh


WHO reports 27 measles deaths in Sindh
--------------------------------------
Karachi: As the reports surfaced indicating 27 deaths this year so far under 5 year old children due to measles, Health minister Sindh Dr Sagheer Ahmed denied having any such information and said he would personally inquire into the matter.

Prof Iqbal Memon, president elect of Pakistan Pediatrics Association (PPA) Centre disclosed that a representative of Disease Early Warning System, WHO Sindh presented a report to the Sindh Health Department officials in a meeting held at Inspection and Import Depot (IID) office some days back that 27 children under 5 years of age had died of measles from January to May 2012. Talking to PPI, he said 2 meetings had already been held between concerned health department officials and foreign agencies to prevent the further spread of measles.

When contacted, health minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed said he had no knowledge about deaths occurred due to measles, adding he would collect information from the health department officials. He informed that Peoples Primary HealthCare Initiative (PPHI) and all EDOs had already been directed to control measles and prepare report about its cases, even though PPHI does not fall under the health department authority.

However, Memon said the disease can spread quickly when people are crowded together. Children living in congested conditions have to be immunized immediately to protect them from this dangerous illness. He said all district health offices must spread awareness about this disease and doctors should collect proper data and inform their officials.

Chief minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah has already formed a technical committee to control measles in Sindh. Focal person of the Technical Committee on Polio and Measles Ahmed Sheikh, talking to PPI, said the agencies involved in the committee include Expended Program on Immunization (EPI), World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the Pakistan Pediatrics Association (PPA), and Disease Early Warning System Sindh. He said an anti-measles campaign would be started through media from Monday.

Provincial coordinator of Disease Early Warning System (DEWS), WHO, Sindh chapter Dr Soomar Khoso said we have already collected data on measles in Sindh and provided it to EPI Sindh. He said measles is a killer diseases and highly contagious. It also causes diarrhea, pneumonia, eye infection, and many other serious ailments to children. Measles can be protected by vaccination, while children should get at least 2 doses of measles vaccine. The children should get their 1st dose at completion of one month age irrespective of their previous illness. They should get 2nd dose at the age of 15 months, or any time during the second year of life provided one month has passed since the first dose is given. He informed that measles vaccine is not being given door-to-door like polio vaccination. He requested parents to take their babies to the nearest health care facility for measles and other routine EPI vaccines.

In charge Expended Program on Immunization (EPI) Dr Mazhar Khamisani said hundreds of patients are reported with suspected measles. He said we have collected their samples and sent them to Islamabad for test, and it would be premature to comment on the issue before getting final reports from Islamabad.

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[4] Pakistan (national prediction)
Date: Sat 9 Jun 2012
Source: The Express Tribune [edited]
http://tribune.com.pk/story/391059/conf ... -year-end/


Confirmed cases: children with measles may top 21 000 by year-end
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Islamabad: Officials voiced fears on Friday [8 Jun 2012] that as many as 21 000 children could contract measles by the year's end. Already, some 2143 confirmed cases of measles have been reported across the country. According to documents provided to The Express Tribune, the majority of confirmed cases were reported from Sindh.

A total of 737 were reported from Sindh, followed by 648 from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 582 cases from Punjab, 102 from Balochistan, 49 from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), and 14 cases from Islamabad. An official who requested anonymity told The Express Tribune, that he works closely with The Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI). He said that these cases were reported to the EPI and samples were received at the National Institute of Health (NIH). The official added that it is estimated that the figure of confirmed cases is double what has been reported. Officials believe measles remains underreported by most provinces/districts.

"This underreporting, better known as hidden measles cases, usually results in an outbreak of the disease and claims many innocent lives. Unfortunately, many do not understand this," he said. However, the documents also showed that in the past, many districts reported very high coverage of measles vaccination and their coverage figures were blindly endorsed by the provincial offices. Subsequently, it was found that the reports provided by the provinces were exaggerated. It further stated that now, the Federal EPI ministry is ready to resume a measles follow-up campaign in the remaining districts. Considering the recent outbreaks and surveillance data, the agencies of Fata and districts of Balochistan have been prioritised. UNICEF has secured vaccines for these districts/agencies and WHO has agreed to provide the operational cost.

"Measles is a highly contagious viral disease and spreads very fast. If one child has the virus, he can infect others very easily. If cases are reported immediately then it becomes easy to control the spread of the virus. Measles accounts for one in every five childhood deaths among diseases preventable by vaccine," the official said. The official added that a major contributing factor to recent cases of measles were poor routine immunisation practices in the country. "If the routine immunisation went according to schedule then I bet there would be no need to run national measles campaigns," he said. "Officials who are supposed to ensure routine immunisation are not paying much attention to it and the vaccinators are underpaid."

Pakistan remains one of the most important countries worldwide for measles elimination activities. WHO estimates that every year about 2.1 million children are infected with measles in Pakistan. When contacted, programme manager of EPI Dr Zahid Larik said the federal government is providing an ample amount of logistical support and vaccination to all provinces. "It is their duty to ensure routine immunisation to each and every child in their region and to protect them from such a fatal disease," he said.

[byline: Sehrish Wasif]

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MEASLES UPDATE 2012 (25)
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Equatorial Guinea
Date: Sat 23 June 2012
Source: Guinea Equatorial [in Spanish, trans. Mod.JG, edited]
http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/no ... hp?id=2759


After the last measles vaccination campaign that took place last April 2012, a new outbreak of the disease has been reported in some communities in Malabo district, and for this reason, the Ministry of Health initiated a new vaccination campaign [Malabo is the capital of Equatorial Guinea, located on the northern coast of Bioko Island. - Mod.CP].

Activities started last Thursday, with the cooperation of the National Vaccination Programme (PAV, according to its Spanish initials). The campaign will concentrate its activities in the most severely affected communities, such as Santa Maria III, Lampert and Sunco.

Some medical officers gathered in Madre Bisila Health Centre in order to organise local vaccination units and to deal with mothers who brought their children to the Health Centre in order to have them vaccinated. Vaccine will be dispensed throughout the next 10 days, and subsequently, the vaccination campaign will continue in the Continental region of Equatorial Guinea.

Local officials from the Ministry of Health are inviting the population, particularly mothers, to bring their children to local health centres or to bring their children to mobile vaccination units when these teams arrive to their communities.

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[According to La Voz de Rusia (http://spanish.ruvr.ru/2012_06_22/Guine ... sarampion/), the last major measles epidemic in the country occurred in November 2008, when more than a dozen children died in various hospitals in Equatorial Guinea. No fatalities have been reported in the current outbreak so far.

Equatorial Guinea, officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, is a country located in central Africa. It has 2 parts: a Continental Region (Rio Muni), including several small offshore islands including Corisco, Elobey Grande and Elobey Chico; and an insular region containing Annobon island and Bioko island (formerly Fernando Po), where the capital Malabo is situated. A map of Equatorial Guinea can be accessed at: http://www.africa.upenn.edu/CIA_Maps/Eq ... _19871.gif. - Mod.CP

The ProMED HealthMap for Equatorial Guinea can be found at http://healthmap.org/r/1KlO.]

MEASLES UPDATE 2012 (26)
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[1] Congo DR (KO)
Date: Wed 27 Jun 2012
Source: Radio Okapi [In French, machine translation, edited]
http://radiookapi.net/actualite/2012/06 ... a-sankuru/


Congo DR (Kasai Orientale) -- 5500 cases of measles with 100 deaths in Kabinda and Sankuru
-------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------
Measles killed more than 5500 cases with a hundred deaths since the beginning of the year in the districts of Sankuru and Kabinda in Kasai Orientale province. The Provincial Health Department (DPS), which published these figures emphasised that the health zones affected are among those which had not organised immunisation days in April. The Director said that only seven health zones of the 51 that make up the province of Kasai Oriental had vaccinated children. Local sources indicate that most patients resided in the Vangakete, Katako Kombe and Lomela Sankuru districts, which recorded alone some 5247 cases of whom 100 died. The same sources say that 269 other cases and five deaths were recorded in health areas Kabinda, Ludimbi, Lukula and Lubao. To explain the resurgence of this disease, an official of the provincial coordination [unit] of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) says that: "the target coverage of routine immunisation of up to 90 percent was not achieved. The measles vaccination timetable had not been followed. Instead of a four year vaccination interval, vaccination was organised at only six yeas after an outbreak. Inadequate resources did not permit vaccination days to be arranged in three areas of District Health Sankuru Health district;

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[2] Pakistan (National)
Date: Sun 24 Jun 2012
Source: The Express Tribune [abbreviated & edited]
http://tribune.com.pk/story/398275/who- ... ver-cases/


Measles is becoming a cause of concern. This year, 5663 cases of measles were reported. Of these 77 children died. Dr Rahim said the reason behind the outbreak of measles is the suboptimal coverage of vaccination in some parts of the country. "Some places were inaccessible to the teams, while in other instances families refused vaccination."

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Pakistan (Mansehra)
Date: Sun 1 Jul 2012
Source: The International News [edited]
http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-56819 ... f-Mansehra


Measles cases rise in parts of Mansehra
---------------------------------------
MANSEHRA: Two children have died of measles and several others are being treated for the disease in Torghar district, a health department official said on Saturday [30 Jun 2012]. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, executive district officer (EDO) of health Torghar, Dr Mohammad Idrees said measles cases had been reported in Daray, Zamlay, Larri and Todum villages where medical teams had been sent.

The National Research and Development Foundation (NRDF) country coordinator Maulana Waseeur Rehman and district coordinator Mohammad Zubair also spoke on the occasion. Dr Idrees said two teams headed by Dr Zahid were treating the affected children and administering vaccines to the normal kids.

The EDO said there was no disease early warning system in Torghar where only nine basic health units existed in the past but later two were destroyed in the 2005 earthquake. He said nine medical technicians were recently appointed for vaccination of children in the district.

"There is no rural health centre there and no routine vaccination of children is carried out in the area. That is why the measles broke out inthe district," said Dr Idrees.

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[Mansehra District is located in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, formerly known as the Northwest Frontier. The interactive HealthMap of Mansehra can be accessed at http://healthmap.org/r/2FQ6. - Mod.CP]

Ukraine - Masern
10.07.2012

In der Ukraine findet zur Zeit ein großer Masern-Ausbruch statt, der bereits in der zweiten Jahreshälfte 2011 begann. Seit Anfang Januar 2012 sind dort bereits fast 11.500 Menschen an Masern erkrankt, die meisten im Westen des Landes. Impfschutz empfohlen! / Quelle: crm

Gruß
Birgitt