Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
CHILD HEALTH - Six suspected measles deaths
Miangaly Ralitera - Published on August 6, 2026
After Ambatofinandrahana, it is now the turn of the Antsirabe II district to be investigated. Several children have died in two days in one of its communes.
Tragedy struck the rural commune of Ambohitsimanavo, in the Antsirabe II district. Six children, all under the age of seven, died on August 4th and 5th, according to official sources. The last child died en route to the Avarabohitra Basic Health Center (CSB1), where he was to receive treatment. Measles is believed to be the likely cause of death.
"Teams from the Ministry of Public Health immediately went to the field to conduct an investigation, in collaboration with officials from the District Public Health Service (SDSP) of Antsirabe II. The analyses carried out confirmed that measles was indeed the cause of death of these six children," according to a post on the Facebook page of the Ministry of Public Health yesterday.
Other sources offer different explanations: "Health professionals suspected measles as the cause of these deaths. These children presented symptoms of this disease, such as a fever that lasted a week or even two before they died," says a local authority in Antsirabe II.
Medical sources caution that attributing these deaths to measles should be approached with care. One official explained that the head of the local health center was only able to examine two of the victims, who presented with skin rashes. The other four children had already been buried.
"In the absence of investigations into these cases, it is impossible to formally confirm that measles is the cause of all these deaths," our source indicates.
Worrying
The presence of the measles virus in this commune has been confirmed. A case of measles was confirmed in Sahanivotry Est in June 2026, according to the results of analyses of the sample carried out by the Pasteur Institute of Madagascar (IPM).
This eruptive disease continues to spread. Three children, two 30-month-old boys and a girl
Seven-month-old children from this town are presenting with skin rashes, fever, and extreme fatigue. "Samples have been sent to the IPM to confirm whether it is indeed measles," the source continued.
In Mandrosonoro, in the Ambatofinandrahana district, twenty-two suspected cases of measles were reported last week. Samples taken from seven people were sent to the IPM for confirmation.
The measles virus continues to circulate. According to the epidemiological situation published by the Ministry of Public Health, as of July 19, forty-two districts are in an epidemic situation, of which twenty-four are in the active phase, meaning that the virus is still circulating, while eighteen are in the surveillance phase, meaning that no new cases are detected there, but the surveillance period is not yet over.
From January 1st to July 19th, 229 cases were confirmed by the Pasteur Institute of Madagascar, and 7,228 cases were identified through epidemiological link, meaning they did not undergo biological testing but presented the same symptoms as measles. "The low vaccination coverage rate facilitates the spread of measles," explains an official from the Ministry of Public Health.
The children who died in Ambohitsimanavo were not fully vaccinated. According to doctors, measles alone does not cause death. "Death occurs as a result of complications that can arise in unvaccinated individuals," explained one doctor. A vaccination campaign will be launched in response to this outbreak.
Miangaly Ralitera
https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/08/sante-infantile-six-deces-suspects-de.html
Miangaly Ralitera - Published on August 6, 2026
After Ambatofinandrahana, it is now the turn of the Antsirabe II district to be investigated. Several children have died in two days in one of its communes.
Tragedy struck the rural commune of Ambohitsimanavo, in the Antsirabe II district. Six children, all under the age of seven, died on August 4th and 5th, according to official sources. The last child died en route to the Avarabohitra Basic Health Center (CSB1), where he was to receive treatment. Measles is believed to be the likely cause of death.
"Teams from the Ministry of Public Health immediately went to the field to conduct an investigation, in collaboration with officials from the District Public Health Service (SDSP) of Antsirabe II. The analyses carried out confirmed that measles was indeed the cause of death of these six children," according to a post on the Facebook page of the Ministry of Public Health yesterday.
Other sources offer different explanations: "Health professionals suspected measles as the cause of these deaths. These children presented symptoms of this disease, such as a fever that lasted a week or even two before they died," says a local authority in Antsirabe II.
Medical sources caution that attributing these deaths to measles should be approached with care. One official explained that the head of the local health center was only able to examine two of the victims, who presented with skin rashes. The other four children had already been buried.
"In the absence of investigations into these cases, it is impossible to formally confirm that measles is the cause of all these deaths," our source indicates.
Worrying
The presence of the measles virus in this commune has been confirmed. A case of measles was confirmed in Sahanivotry Est in June 2026, according to the results of analyses of the sample carried out by the Pasteur Institute of Madagascar (IPM).
This eruptive disease continues to spread. Three children, two 30-month-old boys and a girl
Seven-month-old children from this town are presenting with skin rashes, fever, and extreme fatigue. "Samples have been sent to the IPM to confirm whether it is indeed measles," the source continued.
In Mandrosonoro, in the Ambatofinandrahana district, twenty-two suspected cases of measles were reported last week. Samples taken from seven people were sent to the IPM for confirmation.
The measles virus continues to circulate. According to the epidemiological situation published by the Ministry of Public Health, as of July 19, forty-two districts are in an epidemic situation, of which twenty-four are in the active phase, meaning that the virus is still circulating, while eighteen are in the surveillance phase, meaning that no new cases are detected there, but the surveillance period is not yet over.
From January 1st to July 19th, 229 cases were confirmed by the Pasteur Institute of Madagascar, and 7,228 cases were identified through epidemiological link, meaning they did not undergo biological testing but presented the same symptoms as measles. "The low vaccination coverage rate facilitates the spread of measles," explains an official from the Ministry of Public Health.
The children who died in Ambohitsimanavo were not fully vaccinated. According to doctors, measles alone does not cause death. "Death occurs as a result of complications that can arise in unvaccinated individuals," explained one doctor. A vaccination campaign will be launched in response to this outbreak.
Miangaly Ralitera
https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/08/sante-infantile-six-deces-suspects-de.html