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21 Die in New Measles Outbreak
The Nation (Nairobi)
NEWS
January 17, 2007
Posted to the web January 17, 2007
By Edward Koech
Nairobi
Twenty one people are feared to have died of measles in West Pokot District.
The disease broke out in late December, last year, in Parek village and then spread to six other villages killing dozens of children.
Ten councillors in Sigor Division led by Mr Jackson Long'olemuk and the chief Israel Atukole said 16 children and five adults have died in the past three weeks.
Mr Long'olemuk listed the hardest hit villages as Taloon, Silit, Sarmach, Riting, Nasolot and Tamkar, all in Muino Location.
"The location is inaccessible by road and has no health facility. The nearest health centre is at Sengelel, 30 kilometres away," Mr Long'olemuk added.
The leaders said the disease was compounded by an outbreak of malaria and famine in the area.
"The disease spread fast because patients were being treated by herbalists since the area has no medical facilities," the councillor said.
The medical officer of health, Dr Shadrack Kemei, confirmed the outbreak but said it had so far claimed nine lives.
Dr Kemei added that one male patient was admitted to Kapenguria District Hospital.
Yesterday, the MoH held a crisis meeting with departmental heads and rolled out a three-day emergency vaccination of children starting from today.
Dr Kemei attributed the outbreak to the collapse of a mobile clinic which was run by the Lutheran Church to provide free medical treatment and immunisation.
It was operated twice a week using a helicopter.
The provincial medical team headed by the chief nursing officer, Mr Samuel Kigen, toured the district to assess the situation.
Last year, more than 20 people died of the same disease in the district.
Immunisation exercise
An immunisation exercise was carried out by the Government in conjunction with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef). More than 80,000 children below the age of five were inoculated.
More than 50 people were also killed by meningitis in Kacheliba constituency last year.
The disease originated from Karamonjong District in neighbouring Uganda.
A vaccination campaign was carried out in which about 30,000 people were targeted.
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The Nation (Nairobi)
NEWS
January 17, 2007
Posted to the web January 17, 2007
By Edward Koech
Nairobi
Twenty one people are feared to have died of measles in West Pokot District.
The disease broke out in late December, last year, in Parek village and then spread to six other villages killing dozens of children.
Ten councillors in Sigor Division led by Mr Jackson Long'olemuk and the chief Israel Atukole said 16 children and five adults have died in the past three weeks.
Mr Long'olemuk listed the hardest hit villages as Taloon, Silit, Sarmach, Riting, Nasolot and Tamkar, all in Muino Location.
"The location is inaccessible by road and has no health facility. The nearest health centre is at Sengelel, 30 kilometres away," Mr Long'olemuk added.
The leaders said the disease was compounded by an outbreak of malaria and famine in the area.
"The disease spread fast because patients were being treated by herbalists since the area has no medical facilities," the councillor said.
The medical officer of health, Dr Shadrack Kemei, confirmed the outbreak but said it had so far claimed nine lives.
Dr Kemei added that one male patient was admitted to Kapenguria District Hospital.
Yesterday, the MoH held a crisis meeting with departmental heads and rolled out a three-day emergency vaccination of children starting from today.
Dr Kemei attributed the outbreak to the collapse of a mobile clinic which was run by the Lutheran Church to provide free medical treatment and immunisation.
It was operated twice a week using a helicopter.
The provincial medical team headed by the chief nursing officer, Mr Samuel Kigen, toured the district to assess the situation.
Last year, more than 20 people died of the same disease in the district.
Immunisation exercise
An immunisation exercise was carried out by the Government in conjunction with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef). More than 80,000 children below the age of five were inoculated.
More than 50 people were also killed by meningitis in Kacheliba constituency last year.
The disease originated from Karamonjong District in neighbouring Uganda.
A vaccination campaign was carried out in which about 30,000 people were targeted.
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