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/...emergencies-bulletin-week-12-18-24-march-2024
