Harare, August 17 (BNA) An outbreak of measles in Zimbabwe has killed 157 children, most of whom were not vaccinated because of their families’ religious beliefs, officials said.
The Associated Press (AP) reports that the measles outbreak was first reported in eastern Manicaland province in early April and has since spread to all parts of the country.
Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said at least 2,056 cases had been reported and almost all deaths were of unvaccinated children.
She said Zimbabwe’s cabinet had adopted a law used for disaster response to deal with the outbreak.
The government says it is embarking on a massive vaccination campaign targeting children aged 6 months to 15 years and is engaging traditional and religious leaders to support the campaign.
Zimbabwe continued to vaccinate children against measles even at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, but religious groups that broadcast against vaccinations stymied it. Christian denominations oppose modern medicine and require their members to rely on purported prophets for healing.
The Ministry of Health said in a statement last week that church gatherings that resumed after easing the restrictions of the emerging corona virus “led to the spread of measles to previously unaffected areas.”
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world and is spread mostly in the air by coughing, sneezing or close contact. Symptoms include cough, fever, and rash, while the risk of severe measles or death from complications is high among unvaccinated children. Outbreaks among unvaccinated and malnourished populations are known to claim thousands of lives. Scientists estimate that more than 90% of the population needs to be immunized to prevent an outbreak of measles.
The World Health Organization warned in April of an increase in measles in countries at risk as a result of disruptions to services due to COVID-19. In July, UNICEF said that about 25 million children worldwide did not receive routine vaccinations against common childhood diseases, calling this a “red alert” for child health.
AOQ