Measles outbreak hits Kenya, 32 children die

  1. Posted on Wednesday 3 October 2012 - 08:43
    Alal
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    MAURICE ALAL, AfricaNews reporter in Kisumu, Kenya
    Thirty two children have been reportedly killed countrywide following an outbreak of measles in Kenya, health experts have said. The report from the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation indicates that measles cases have been reported in 45 out of the 47 Counties in Kenya. Only Lamu and Marsabit Counties have been said to be free of the outbreak.
    kenya map
    It further shows that a total of 767 measles cases have been reported so far since September 2012 posing fear amongst the medics and residents in the country especially in affected areas.

    According to Dr Shahnaaz Sharif, 441 measles cases have been detected in Narok County after numerous children were diagnosed following the pronouncement of the outbreak.

    Dr Sharif said 281 cases have also been recorded in Kitui and 225 in Garissa Counties. He further revealed that 194 cases detected in Mandera and 128 in Nairobi following the diagnosing of the children in these Counties.

    The medic said that the government is set to launch a countrywide measles immunization campaign targeting over 6 million children.

    He added that the government will also immunize children in Garissa County both for measles and oral polio vaccines targeting up to the age of 15 year old in a bid to curb other possible outbreak terming Garissa, one of the prone areas.

    “We therefore appealed to parents to readily avail their children for immunization,” Dr Sharif said adding that this will help the government to contain the situation in time.

    However, some of the symptoms of the measles include rashes all over the body, high fever, cough, runny nose and red water eye that medics advised Kenyans to be wary of and report immediately in the nearby health facilities.

    Dr Sharif further warned the residents in the 47 counties to be on a higher alert following the measles outbreak saying that it was responsibility of all the stakeholders to curb the disease.
    END

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