WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
Week 9: 20 to 26 February 2023
Data as reported by: 17:00; 26 February 2023
...
United Republic of Tanzania Measles
3 811 Cases
11 Deaths
0.3% CFR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
The measles outbreak in The United Republic of Tanzania
continues after its official declaration by the Ministry of
Health on 15 August 2022.
From July 2022 to February 2023, the country has
reported a total of 3 811 suspected cases and 11 deaths
(CFR 0.3%) due to measles. Of the suspected cases, 710
(18.6%) have been laboratory confirmed for measles and
313 (8.2%) were confirmed as rubella cases.
Monitoring of surveillance data show the progressive
increases in number of laboratory confirmed measles and
rubella cases at end of June 2022 with a peak in October
and November 2022 and a recent surge in January 2023.
All regions in the country have reported at least one
confirmed case of measles, however as of week 7
(ending 19 Feb 2023), there were active outbreaks in
only 12 councils including Muleba, Tabora, Bagamoyo,
Sumbawanga, Nzega, Chakechake, Sumbawanga,
Chunya, Mtwara, Uvinza, Mpimbwe and Malinyi. The
epicentre of the outbreak remains in Dar-es-salaam and
regions situated along the Indian coast line. Dar-essalaam
accounted for 9.2% of all cases, Mtwara for 7.4%,
and Dodoma 5.9%.
Of the total laboratory-confirmed cases, the majority
(90.1%) were aged 15 years or younger, while 58% of
them were under 5 years, and 12% were under 9 months
of age. Additionally, among the laboratory-confirmed
cases, 59% were found to be unvaccinated, 21% were
partially vaccinated, and 20% had been fully vaccinated.
Low vaccination coverage has been attributed to several
factors, including inadequate vaccine supply, limited
access to healthcare services, and vaccine hesitancy. In
Tanzania, there have been reports of vaccine shortages,
particularly in rural areas, where access to healthcare
services is limited.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS
An outbreak of measles was declared on 15 August
2022 by the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry of Health, along with the Office of the
President of the Regional Administration and Local
Government (PO-RALG) and partners are responding
and implementing key outbreak control activities in
affected and high risk councils.
The routine vaccination strategy has been intensified
in the following districts: Nkasi, Kaliua, Mpimbwe,
Da-es-salaam, Kilwa, and regions of Mtwara.
Financial resources are being procured to increase
vaccination campaign efforts through the GAVI
Vaccine Alliance.
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
An outbreak of measles has been ongoing in the United
Republic of Tanzania since July 2022. The outbreak in
Tanzania has been attributed to several factors, including
low vaccination coverage, inadequate surveillance
systems, and limited access to healthcare services.
Children have been the most affected with the majority of
cases reported to be under the age of 15 years.
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/366345/OEW09-2026022023.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
