Agencies-Gaza post
Measles kills 157 children in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s authorities announced on Tuesday that at least 157 children have died from measles, noting that the number of reported infections since this infectious viral disease began spreading in the country two weeks ago is more than 2,000.
In early August, the African country recorded its first measles infection, and since then the frequency of infections has been steadily increasing, while the number of deaths from the disease has doubled in less than a week.
Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said during a press conference that “as of 15 August, the country’s cumulative tally is 2,056 infections and 157 deaths.”
The Government intended to intensify vaccinations would spend funds from the National Disaster Fund to deal with the emergency, and would also ask tribal and religious leaders to provide support in encouraging the population to vaccinate their children against the disease.
Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health had attributed the cause of the current outbreak to religious gatherings.
The measles virus mainly attacks children, one of its most serious complications being blindness and diarrhea, as well as serious respiratory infections.
Symptoms of the disease are a red rash that first appears on the face and then spreads throughout the body, and in the past measles was very common, but currently, it can be prevented by an antiretroviral vaccine.
In April, the World Health Organization warned that Africa was facing a rise in vaccine-preventable diseases.
According to the organization’s Africa office, the continent is experiencing an increase in the number of people living with measles, with the first quarter of this year registering a 400% increase in the number of patients compared to the same period last year, due to delays in receiving the vaccine
