TRAGIC! 2 Dead, 313 Infected in Latest Measles Outbreak in Kenya
Kenya Health Department have confirmed the death of at least two people with 313 infection cases in latest measles outbreak in the country’s Mandera County.
The disease has affected both children under the age of five and adults, leaving a child and an elderly woman dead.
Low Immunization
According to Mr Mohamud Mohamed, the county's health minister, the region is still battling the epidemic in parts of Banisa and Mandera West sub-counties.
“We have managed the situation in Mandera East, North, South and Lafey sub-counties through emergency immunisation, but the national government will support the fight in the remaining areas,” he said.
Mohamed blamed the low immunisation cover in Mandera on the nomadic nature of the communities.
“Locals in Mandera are always on the move with their livestock at the expense of medical attention, but we are following them into interior grazing fields for immunisation,” said the official, adding that the low response from the national government and insecurity in Mandera were also to blame for poor immunisation coverage.
The disease was first detected in areas bordering Somalia and Ethiopia before spreading into the interior parts. Through the Rapid Result Initiative, the county aims at containing the epidemic completely within the next two months.
Cases Spillover
Mr Ibrahim Hussein, the head of the disease surveillance department in Mandera, said the highly contagious disease was first reported in Mandera East back in February. “We recorded one death of a child in February in Mandera East and another of an elderly woman in Mandera North Sub-County, but enough intervention measures were set up then and successfully managed the situation,” he said.
Since June, the disease has hit Mandera West with 182 cases recorded mostly in the remote areas. “But our medical teams are on the ground carrying out intervention measures,” he said.
Mandera North reported a measles outbreak in July and August, recording 28 cases.
Mr Hussein blamed low immunisation coverage in Mandera for the high spread of the disease. “In addition to low immunisation coverage, we suffer from a spillover from neighbouring Ethiopia and Somalia since they have poor health infrastructure,” he said.
Symptoms of measles can include watery eyes, sneezing, a dry hacking cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis or swollen eyelids and inflamed eyes and photophobia or sensitivity to light. There is an often fever that can range from mild to severe.
Kenya Health Department have confirmed the death of at least two people with 313 infection cases in latest measles outbreak in the country’s Mandera County.
The disease has affected both children under the age of five and adults, leaving a child and an elderly woman dead.
Low Immunization
According to Mr Mohamud Mohamed, the county's health minister, the region is still battling the epidemic in parts of Banisa and Mandera West sub-counties.
“We have managed the situation in Mandera East, North, South and Lafey sub-counties through emergency immunisation, but the national government will support the fight in the remaining areas,” he said.
Mohamed blamed the low immunisation cover in Mandera on the nomadic nature of the communities.
“Locals in Mandera are always on the move with their livestock at the expense of medical attention, but we are following them into interior grazing fields for immunisation,” said the official, adding that the low response from the national government and insecurity in Mandera were also to blame for poor immunisation coverage.
The disease was first detected in areas bordering Somalia and Ethiopia before spreading into the interior parts. Through the Rapid Result Initiative, the county aims at containing the epidemic completely within the next two months.
Cases Spillover
Mr Ibrahim Hussein, the head of the disease surveillance department in Mandera, said the highly contagious disease was first reported in Mandera East back in February. “We recorded one death of a child in February in Mandera East and another of an elderly woman in Mandera North Sub-County, but enough intervention measures were set up then and successfully managed the situation,” he said.
Since June, the disease has hit Mandera West with 182 cases recorded mostly in the remote areas. “But our medical teams are on the ground carrying out intervention measures,” he said.
Mandera North reported a measles outbreak in July and August, recording 28 cases.
Mr Hussein blamed low immunisation coverage in Mandera for the high spread of the disease. “In addition to low immunisation coverage, we suffer from a spillover from neighbouring Ethiopia and Somalia since they have poor health infrastructure,” he said.
Symptoms of measles can include watery eyes, sneezing, a dry hacking cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis or swollen eyelids and inflamed eyes and photophobia or sensitivity to light. There is an often fever that can range from mild to severe.
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