An outbreak in measles in Zimbabwe has claimed the lives of at least 157 children, out of over more than 2,000 person infections around the nation. The following information has been shared by the Zimbabwean government on Tuesday.
Since the outbreak has been reported in the early days of August, the number of cases in the Southern African nation has increased at a very fast pace, with the number of reported casualties nearly doubling in less than a week.
While addressing the press conference, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said that, “As of 15 August, the cumulative numbers stood at 2,056 cases and 157 deaths.”
She further stressed that the government is planning to increase the pace-scale of vaccinations, which is intending to “Cope with the emergency.”
The Ministry of Health had earlier attributed the outbreak to religious gatherings.
Mutsvangwa mentioned that the government was planning to step up vaccinations and has invoked special laws which permit it to draw money from the national disaster fund to cope-up with the emergency.
While adding that most of the victims were unvaccinated, she said the government was to engage with traditional and faith leaders to garner their support with the vaccination campaign.
The health ministry has earlier alleged the outbreak on church sect gatherings.
About Measles Virus-
The measles virus targets children primarily with the most serious complications, including blindness, brain swelling, diarrhoea and severe respiratory infections.
The symptoms shows, red rash that appears firstly on the face and spreads on to the rest of the body. Once very common, it can now be prevented with a vaccine.
The World Health Organization in April said that Africa was experiencing an explosion of preventable diseases because of continuous delays in providing vaccination jabs to children, with measles cases jumping 400%.
