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NAMIBIA, SOUTH AFRICA AND BOTSWANA HIT BY MEASLES

  1. Posted on Tuesday 10 November 2009 - 06:59
    baatweng
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    VICTOR BAATWENG IN GABORONE, BOTSWANA
    Three Southern Africa countries, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa (SA) have been hit by measles with a number of cases reported in each country this week. In South Africa the Department of Health has said that there are at least 940 cases of measles reported in that country while Botswana the Ministry of Health (MOH) has announced this week that they will from next week embark on a national vaccination campaign after a number of cases were reported last week. According to a press statement from MOH, “The campaign will cover children aged between 6 months and 5 years from the 16th to 22nd November 2009 at all public health facilities in Botswana”.
    Namibia, which boarders both Botswana and SA has also reported a number of cases this past week. This is the second time in a period of less than a month Namibia experiences such. In mid September the Ohangwena Region was hit by measles and forced to call for an immediate measles vaccination campaign
    Measles is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus. Symptoms include a sudden onset of fever, coughing, runny nose, red eyes, and a generalised fine rash that spreads from the face and neck, down the body. It is spread by coughing and sneezing, and close contact with fluids from an infected person's nose and mouth and it is ranked among the top four childhood killers worldwide.
    According to UNICEF and WHO, measles remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among young children; with approximately 500,000 deaths in Sub Saharan Africa each year. In 1996 seven countries of southern Africa (Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe) reported a total of 60,000 measles cases and 166 measles deaths.

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