Swaziland: Measles outbreak

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Source: http://www.observer.org.sz/index.php?news=9806

MEASLES OUTBREAK: 9 INFECTED
17 December, 2009 10:00:00 By Nelsiwe Ndlangamandla
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THERE is an outbreak of measles in the country, especially in the Hhohho south region.
At least nine people have been confirmed positive but given medication.
The affected patients are of age group six to nine months, six years to 14 years and the extreme case so far is that of a 29-year-old woman.
A victim interviewed yesterday said at first she had fever like symptoms but did not take that seriously. It was only after two days that she decided to see a doctor.
?At this time my throat was sore and I had a runny nose as well as minor headaches,? she said.
She added that she also had a rash first on her forehead and neck then it later spread all over her body.
?I was shocked when I reached the hospital and they told me that I had measles,? she said.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Dr. Steven Shongwe confirmed the matter.
He stated that they did not know why the sickness was concentrated in the Hhohho South region.
?We do not have a logical explanation on why it affected people from this region but as time goes by we are hoping the ministry will have answers.?
He stated that places that had been affected in Mbabane are Checkers, St. Marks, Makholokholo, Motshane, Mvutshini and Mchaphozini.

Ministry has enough
vaccination ? PS

Dr. Shongwe has said the ministry has enough vaccines for measles.
He asked people not to panic but to go to the nearest hospital or clinic if they suspect that they could be infected with the virus.
Dr. Shongwe explained that ?the ministry is going to order some vaccines through the tendering process to ensure that there are no shortages.?

What is measles and its symptoms?
Measles is a contagious infection caused by a virus. Measles was once common but because of immunisation it is now fortunately becoming very rare. The symptoms of measles usually begin to develop about seven-11 days after the person first becomes infected. The first symptoms are normally similar to those of a bad cold: fever, runny nose, sore throat and a cough. A few days later a bright red, blotchy rash breaks out on the forehead, face and neck. Within a few days the rash spreads to the body, arms and legs, by which time the rash will begin to fade from the face. When the rash breaks out, you may also develop conjunctivitis (common and treatable eye infections in children and adults).
Measles is highly contagious and before immunisation was available it would cause epidemics in schools. Once you have had measles you will develop an immunity to it and will not contract it again.
As measles is a virus, there is no specific treatment to cure the infection. However, resting and drinking plenty of non-alcoholic fluid will help.
What to do
Avoid contact with people who have never had measles and who have not been immunised. You can spread measles to others from four days before the rash breaks out to four days after the rash appeared.
Drink plenty of fluids. If you have a fever and are not drinking enough liquids, you can become dehydrated.
Rest your eyes often. If your eyes are sensitive, close the window curtains in your room and limit the amount of time you watch television.
If your child has measles, keep him or her out of school until at least four days after the rash appeared. Keep your child out longer if he or she is not feeling well.
Take child to hospital if he or she;
Becomes confused or is difficult to wake up.
Has a fever for more than 10 days. If your child still has a fever after the third or fourth day of the rash, he or she may need to be evaluated for signs of complications, such as ear infection, strep throat or pneumonia.
Has diarrhea that lasts longer than 2 weeks or has any signs of dehydration.
Has severe headaches or a stiff and sore neck.
Seems to feel better but the symptoms return later.

 

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Re: Swaziland: Measles outbreak

Source: http://www.observer.org.sz/index.php?news=10052

Church denies measles children treatment
30 December, 2009 10:00:00 By Nelsiwe Ndlangamandla


SEVEN people are reported to have died mysteriously while eight others suffered due to measles in Mhlangatane but could not get medical help because of a religious belief that they only have to be prayed for.
This has caused Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku to act fast and save the lives of eight children by forcefully taking them to hospital yesterday.
It is suspected that the seven children also died from measles, which has reportedly infected the eight who were taken to hospital.
The church with no name has been denying its members from going to hospital even at the height of the outbreak. The church is only known as KaNdlovu, after its pastor and owner.
The matter was brought to the fore by community members who have been immunised for the measles virus. They feared that because the eight had not been vaccinated, they could spread it in the community.
One of the children, Sive Gumedze, was very sick when the DPM arrived at his home and because her parents believed so much in their religion, they hid him under a bed.
Mfanasibili Gumedze, a relative to one of the children, said he was alerted by her aunt that the children were sick.
He said when the DPM arrived, the family only showed him four children.
?It was through the help of the neighbours who told the health workers that the fifth child was missing that he was recovered under the bed,? he said.
He stated that the other children were taken from some of the homesteads in that area who are also followers of the same church.

Police roped in

To ensure that the rights of the children are not stepped on, the DPM roped in the police.
He said the police had to be called in to restore order as the parents of the children did not want them to be taken to hospital.
He went on to say ?we will not dice with the lives of our precious children so we have to make sure that they are taken to hospital to get treatment.?
He went on to advise the police to ensure that they keep an eye on the children whilst they are in hospital ensuring that no one takes them away.
?This is not done to hurt anyone but to ensure that the children get treatment and they will thereafter return home,? said the DPM.
Member of Parliament Mbalekelwa Ndwandwe said the parents refused to come with them when taking the children to hospital.
He explained: ?It was the first time in my life that I have seen a woman crying because her child is taken to hospital.?

Church not pleased
with Social Welfare

The church has made it clear that they are not pleased with the social welfare for taking the children to hospital against their will.
One of the members of the ?KaNdlovu? Church, Sotja Mkhatshwa, said their faith required that they had to pray for the sick and not take them to hospital.
Despite that the DPM tried to explain to him the dangers of not taking a sick person to hospital, he shook his head in disagreement saying ?let me take them home with the tablets, I will give it to them.?
As if they knew what was said by their church member outside the room when he talked to the DPM, some of the children inside the wards started crying, saying they wanted to leave the hospital. One of them even said that she was not sick at all.
Asked as to what happened when someone was involved in an accident, Mkhatshwa said that would never happen to them because their God would protect them from such.
The DPM remarked: ?we respect the religion but the children are not old enough to make their own decisions so let them have education and treatment until such time that they are able to do things on their own.?

Immunise children
or be arrested

The DPM has given a stern warning to people who would not immunise their children for measles, especially acting in the same way that the KaNdlovu Church has done.
He explained that those who would not immunise would have to face the long arm of the law.
?The ministry of health in collaboration with my office (Social Welfare Department) and the police will work jointly to conduct vigorous community search of additional cases and immunise them all children in this area and beyond,? he said.
He further urged all parents and guardians to ensure that they take children for immunisation.
MP Ndwandwe said every child deserved education and good welfare until they were old enough to make their own decision.

Families rejected
by the community

Families in that area have shunned the families who believe in the strange doctrine of the church..
This was revealed by MP Ndwandwe who observed that people feared that they would catch the measles if they mingled with them.
That area?s Indvuna, Magidasbhekane Gumedze, said they had tried talking to the families but to no avail.


We acted within the constitution ? DPM

DPM Masuku said though the parents were forced to take their children to hospital the Social and Welfare Department acted within the Constitution.
He claimed that the constitution stated that there was a need for care and protection of the children as well as their welfare.
He stated that children?s issues were under his office and that was why he acted swiftly when he was informed of the matter.
He further said the Child Service Order stated that the state should remove children who are exposed to harm and provide safety.


The Children that
were taken to hospital:

Bhekile Gumedze -17 years
Siphiwe Mkhatshwa - 19 years
Nokuthula Mkhatshwa - 13 years
Kholekile Gumedze - 9 years
Sive Gumedze - 5 years
Andile Mkhatshwa - 9 years
Nontobeko Gumedze 6 years
Sithembisile Gumedze 9 years.

 

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Re: Swaziland: Measles outbreak

Source: http://www.times.co.sz/index.php?news=13282

DPM, cops save 8 sick children

By TIMOTHY SIMELANE on December 30,2009

MBABANE ? The Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku yesterday led a contingent of police officers and health workers to save eight sickly children.

The team grabbed the children from two families who did not want to take them to hospital to be treated for measles at Ndvwabaneni in Mhlangatane.
It was said the community blew the whistle on the families after three children died, allegedly from measles in the area.
The two families, Gumedze and Mkhatshwa, are members of the Umculu Transformation Army Church, a cult which allegedly believes strictly in spiritual healing.

Mothers of the children cried uncontrollably when the police and health officials forcefully took the children aged between five and 19 to the Mkhuzweni Health Centre where they were admitted.
So determined were the families that in the Gumedze homestead, a five-year-old boy was allegedly hidden under the bed so that the persistent team would not see him. However, after a frantic search in the house, the police retrieved the boy from under the bed.

The children comprised three boys and five girls, all who were found to be infected with measles.
A doctor?s preliminary report at the Mkhuzweni Clinic found that one of the girls would have died because her blood level had decreased to alarming levels.

In an interview, the DPM said he was shocked that families could deny children their right to basic health care just to appease their spiritual beliefs.
?In the Mkhatshwa family, the father of the children insisted that he prays for his children?s healing. I told him that I am also a Christian but do not believe that children should be denied the right to health care and education.

The Child Services Order states that the state can remove any person from the custody of another, who poses a danger to the child?s health. The relief we sought to bring was for the benefit of the children. At the moment, we have not applied for a court order to permanently remove the children from their parents.?
The DPM paid tribute to the Mhlangatane MP Mbalekelwa Ndwandwe, the police and health officers for their determination during the operation.