HARARE The World Health Organisation says Harare has recorded the highest number of confirmed measles cases since the outbreak started more than a year ago, accounting for nearly a quarter of all reported cases.
According to the latest joint epidemiological report published by the WHO and Zimbabwes Ministry of Health, Harare has recorded 154 confirmed cases of measles against 673 cases that had been reported by early October. Only Zvishavane has recorded a higher number of measles incidents, with 29 cases being reported between September 2009 and last month.
The capital accounted for 42 out of the 76 suspected cases reported during the week ending October 10, the latest period for which is available. 11 975 suspected cases and 631 deaths of measles were reported in all the districts of Zimbabwe (since the outbreak started last year), the report said. The United Nations said last month that Zimbabwes measles outbreak was claiming five lives a week despite a nationwide immunisation campaign carried out in June that targeted more than five million children.
The disease that can be prevented through vaccination was initially confined to families of some religious groups whose followers refuse conventional medical treatment but later spread to more areas countrywide.
2006 ZimOnline
Post published in: News