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EPIDEMIC - Resurgence of measles
Miangaly Ralitera
-
Published on October 14, 2024
A major vaccination campaign against measles and polio is taking place this week. The Ministry of Public Health is urging parents to vaccinate their children.
A big catch-up. Measles is on the rise in some districts of Madagascar. Sixty-one cases have been recorded in thirty-eight districts since the beginning of the year until this month of October, according to data from the Ministry of Public Health, reported by the resident representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), Laurent Musango, yesterday, during the launch of a major vaccination campaign, supported by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi).
The number of cases is above the epidemic threshold in the districts of Ambositra, Vohipeno and Iakoro, according to information shared during this event.
“It’s not a small thing,” says Laurent Musango. He warned the population that this disease is “highly fatal.” The numbers speak for themselves. Between 2018 and 2019, Madagascar was ravaged by a measles epidemic that affected two hundred and forty-four thousand people and killed one thousand and eighty people. Karina, a forty-year-old survivor of this epidemic, testifies: “I almost died from it. I fell into a coma. I was on serum for ten days,” she recalls bitterly.
Under vaccinated
Unimmunized and undervaccinated children are the most at risk. And there are many of them in Madagascar. "A million children with zero doses," according to the WHO, which highlights low vaccination coverage, although there has already been "a resounding success" after the Covid-19 epidemic, thanks to the efforts made by the government, and especially to the support of the vaccination godmother, Mialy Rajoelina.
It is possible to contain this epidemic with the vaccine, the easiest and cheapest means "but which protects", notes Laurent Musango. The non-detection of new cases of polio since September 2023, following the four vaccination campaigns in 2023 and two this year, bears witness to this. The government will integrate measles vaccination into the polio vaccination campaign and the major catch-up for zero doses, during the major vaccination campaign which is being held from October 15 to 19 throughout Madagascar.
Any slackening of the vaccination efforts already made could lead to a repeat of the situation of 2018-2019. "We cannot afford to fail," the WHO representative recommends.
Miangaly Ralitera
EPIDEMIC - Resurgence of measles
Miangaly Ralitera
-
Published on October 14, 2024
A major vaccination campaign against measles and polio is taking place this week. The Ministry of Public Health is urging parents to vaccinate their children.
A big catch-up. Measles is on the rise in some districts of Madagascar. Sixty-one cases have been recorded in thirty-eight districts since the beginning of the year until this month of October, according to data from the Ministry of Public Health, reported by the resident representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), Laurent Musango, yesterday, during the launch of a major vaccination campaign, supported by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi).
The number of cases is above the epidemic threshold in the districts of Ambositra, Vohipeno and Iakoro, according to information shared during this event.
“It’s not a small thing,” says Laurent Musango. He warned the population that this disease is “highly fatal.” The numbers speak for themselves. Between 2018 and 2019, Madagascar was ravaged by a measles epidemic that affected two hundred and forty-four thousand people and killed one thousand and eighty people. Karina, a forty-year-old survivor of this epidemic, testifies: “I almost died from it. I fell into a coma. I was on serum for ten days,” she recalls bitterly.
Under vaccinated
Unimmunized and undervaccinated children are the most at risk. And there are many of them in Madagascar. "A million children with zero doses," according to the WHO, which highlights low vaccination coverage, although there has already been "a resounding success" after the Covid-19 epidemic, thanks to the efforts made by the government, and especially to the support of the vaccination godmother, Mialy Rajoelina.
It is possible to contain this epidemic with the vaccine, the easiest and cheapest means "but which protects", notes Laurent Musango. The non-detection of new cases of polio since September 2023, following the four vaccination campaigns in 2023 and two this year, bears witness to this. The government will integrate measles vaccination into the polio vaccination campaign and the major catch-up for zero doses, during the major vaccination campaign which is being held from October 15 to 19 throughout Madagascar.
Any slackening of the vaccination efforts already made could lead to a repeat of the situation of 2018-2019. "We cannot afford to fail," the WHO representative recommends.
Miangaly Ralitera
