Zambia - Measles 2022-2024

[Shiloh]

Source: https://newsghana.com.gh/measles-bre...estern-zambia/

Measles breaks out in northwestern Zambia
By Xinhua -
Jun 13, 2022

Measles has broken out in northwestern Zambia’s Mushindano district, with three deaths reported so far, health authorities said on Monday.

Ambrose Lufuma, the acting Minister of Health, said a total of 18 cases were reported in the district and three deaths as of June 6, 2022.

Five new suspected cases affecting children between the ages of seven and 12 have been reported in the past 24 hours, he added.

The outbreak, he said, has been attributed to low vaccine uptake, particularly among some social-cultural and religious groupings in the district...

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_th...t_78277114.htm

Measles cases of infection rises to 95 in northwestern Zambia
Xinhua, June 18, 2022

LUSAKA, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Cumulative measles cases in northwestern Zambia's Mushindano district have risen to 95 following 12 new cases reported in the last 24 hours, a health official said Friday.

Ambrose Lufuma, the acting minister of Health, told reporters during a press briefing that the vaccination campaign against measles in the district was progressing well, with more than 92 percent of the targeted population aged six months to 15 years having received the vaccine so far...

[Pathfinder]

WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 25: 13 - 19 June 2022
Data as reported by: 17:00; 19 June 2022
...
All events currently being monitored by WHO AFRO
...

Zambia Measles Ungraded

Date notified to WCO
Start of reporting period 13-Jun-2022
End of reporting period 13-Jun-2022

Total cases 18
Cases Confirmed
Deaths 3
CFR 16.7%

An outbreak of measles involving 18 cases with three deaths have been reported from Mushindano district, North-Western Province, Zambia. The outbreak is reportedly occuring in a setting with low immunisation coverage against the disease.

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/357655/OEW25-1319062022.pdf

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[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_th...t_78402674.htm

475 measles cases reported in Zambia
Xinhua, September 3, 2022

LUSAKA, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Measles, which initially broke out in northwestern Zambia early this year, has now spread to other parts of the country with a total of 475 cases reported so far, health authorities said on Friday.

Sylvia Masebo, the Minister of Health, said measles cases and deaths have been reported in the Kafue district in Lusaka Province as well as the Sinazongwe and Pemba districts in the southern part of the country.

She said four children, who were not vaccinated, have died in Kafue after testing positive for measles while Sinazongwe and Pemba districts have so far reported 57 and 73 cases, respectively...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://menafn.com/1104807958/Zambia...over-23-deaths


Zambia: Measles outbreak leaves over 23 deaths
Date
9/4/2022 4:22:24 AM

(MENAFN) More than 23 people lost their lives of measles different areas of Zambia in August, according to officials on Friday.

As said by Health Minister Sylvia Masebo, experts found a measles outbreak in Sinazongwe and Pemba, two districts placed in Zambia’s Southern Province.

“In August, there were 73 cases and 13 deaths in Pemba, along with 57 cases and three fatalities in Sinazongwe,” she informed media in the capital Lusaka.

Seven more demises were recorded in North-Western Province and Kafue, a district outside Lusaka...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://tiozambia.com/four-measles-c...d-in-mpulungu/


Four measles cases reported in Mpulungu
News Maimbo Mweemba 22/02/2023

Four confirmed measles cases have been recorded in Mpulungu and two cases in the neighbouring Senga District.

Northern Province Public Health Specialist PAUL Mayeya said 200 unconfirmed cases have also been reported.

And Dr Mayeya said Mungwi District recorded two cases which were suspected to be Cholera but it was discovered that the patients suffered of food poisoning which has since been treated...

[Pathfinder]

WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 12: 18 - 24 March 2024
Data as reported by: 17:00; 24 March 2024
...
Zambia

Measles

1 594 Cases
0 Deaths
0.0% CFR

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Since 2021, Zambia has been grappling with repeated
measles outbreaks. Initially concentrated in Lusaka,
Northwestern, and Southern Province, the outbreaks
have now reached all ten provinces, impacting both
urban and rural communities. Predominantly, the affected
demographic comprises children under five years old,
with 84.0% either unvaccinated or lacking a documented
vaccination history against measles, heightening their
susceptibility to the illness. Urgent calls from the Ministry
of Health underscore the critical necessity for vaccination
campaigns and prompt medical intervention to curb the
dissemination of this highly transmissible disease.

In week 8 of 2024, Zambia recorded a total of 54
suspected measles cases, with laboratory testing
confirming 5 cases distributed across 5 districts. This
adds to the cumulative count of suspected cases, which
has now reached 1 594, and laboratory-confirmed
measles cases, totaling 57 since the first week of 2024.
Notably, the epi curve indicates a rise in the number of
cases from week 3. In week 8, Central and Northern
Provinces reported the highest attack rates. Most cases
were reported among children under five years of age,
with girls being disproportionately affected. Luapula
province which recorded the highest attack rate since
the start of the outbreak has seen a declining trend in
the past two weeks, from 13.0 to 1.8/100,000 population.

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

The National Public Health Emergency Operations
Centre has been activated, and the Incident
Management System (IMS) structure is in place and
functioning.

Weekly meetings are convened within the measles
IMS framework to coordinate response efforts.

Suspected cases are monitored daily at both national
and sub-national levels to track the disease’s spread
and identify new outbreaks.

Active surveillance and contact tracing activities are
ongoing in all affected districts to promptly identify
and isolate cases.

Neighboring districts have been placed on high alert
to enhance preparedness and response capacity.
Continuous community sensitization efforts are
underway in affected provinces to raise awareness
about measles prevention and control measures.

Advocate for resources to procure IEC materials on
measles in both English and local languages.

Training for Community-Based Volunteers in measles
community-based surveillance has been conducted.

Intensify community-based surveillance, active case
search, and contact tracing activities.

SITUATION INTERPRETATION

In response to the current measles outbreak, the National
Public Health Emergency Operations Center is actively
monitoring the situation and conducting surveillance
in the affected districts. Concurrently, the Ministry of
Health/ZNPHI is intensifying community engagement
and healthcare worker training. However, they are
encountering challenges due to limited resources for
conducting cross-border collaborative meetings, data
audits, and community active case search activities at
the subnational level, hindering effective coordination and
surveillance efforts.

https://www.afro.who.int/countries/liberia/publication/outbreaks-and-emergencies-bulletin-week-12-18-24-march-2024

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.znbc.co.zm/news/measles-...ut-in-chasefu/

Measles breaksout in Chasefu
Joshua Jere
April 19, 2024

Chasefu District in Eastern province has been hit by an outbreak of measles.

The district has recorded 33 suspected cases of the disease.

Chasefu District Surveillance Officer, JACOB BANDA says eight of the eleven samples collected were taken to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka for examination, and four samples tested positive for measles.

Speaking during the Epidemic Preparedness Meeting at Emusa Day Secondary School, Mr BANDA explained that two positive tests out of five suspected cases of measles confirm the outbreak...