Botswana: measles outbreaks

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Source: http://www.gov.bw/cgi-bin/news.cgi?d=20091104&i=Measles_outbreak_hits_Gaborone

Measles outbreak hits Gaborone

04 November, 2009
GABORONE - Seven children in Gaborone and surrounding areas have been diagnosed with Measles and other suspected cases are being investigated, says a statement from the Ministry of Health. According to a press release from the ministry, members of the public are therefore informed of a Measles outbreak in school going children in Gaborone and surrounding areas. Signs and symptoms of Measles include high fever, cough, skin rash and general weakness. Measles is infectious and isolation is required for all cases to prevent the spread of the disease. Mild cases do not require hospitalisation.

The public is therefore urged to be on high alert and take those individuals with symptoms suggestive of measles to the nearest health facility.

Parents are also strongly advised to take their children who are under five years old to the Measles and Vitamin A campaign scheduled for this month to enhance community protection against the disease.BOPA

 

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Re: Botswana: measles outbreak

Re: Botswana: measles outbreak

Source: http://www.gazettebw.com/index.php?...ert-over-measles-&catid=18:headlines&Itemid=2

No deaths yet, but Ministry on high alert over measles
Written by EDITOR
Tuesday, 10 November 2009 10:12

Twelve confirmed cases of measles have placed more urgency on the Ministry of Health?s national prevention campaign scheduled later this month. To contain the outbreak, all public health facilities will provide measles vaccinations and vitamin A supplements to children under the age of five.?The public is therefore urged to be on high alert and take those individuals with symptoms suggestive of measles to the nearest health facility,? a release from the Health Ministry stated.So far, twelve children, including adolescents, tested positive for measles in Gaborone and the southeastern part of Botswana. In addition, several suspected cases are being investigated. No deaths have occurred.
?These outbreaks? occur when less than 100 percent coverage [of the population] is achieved and [are] also due to measles vaccine efficacy, which is 85 percent,? Director of Public Health S. El-Halabi said during a press conference. Highly contagious, measles is an infection of the respiratory system and is a leading cause of childhood deaths. The virus is spread through contact with fluids from an infected person?s nose and mouth. Initial symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and small white spots within the mouth. After a few days, a rash appears on the face and body.If measles is left untreated children can suffer dangerous complications such as ulcers on the eyes, blindness, infection of the lungs and ear, severe diarrhea and death.Since there is no cure for measles, the best method of protecting the population is through prevention - via immunizations and supplements. Consequently, the Health Ministry is planning a combined measles and vitamin A campaign from November 16 to 22, when parents are encouraged to bring their children to the nearest public health facility.?A measles campaign without vitamin A supplementation would be incomplete as vitamin A supplementation ensures that the child?s immune system is boosted,? El-Halabi said. ?Simultaneously, a joint measles and vitamin A campaign is one of the quickest and least expensive ways of reaching a large number of children in high-risk age groups.?The measles vaccination is given two times : one at nine months of age, and the other during campaigns such as this one. Over 90 percent of Batswana have already received a measles vaccination. But to ensure maximal immunity, children should receive both doses.Supplementation of Vitamin A, in conjunction with the measles vaccine, not only enhances children?s immune systems, but it also reduces death from measles by 50 percent. In addition, Vitamin A prevents blindness, treats malnutrition and reduces the severity of illnesses, such as diarrhea. Foods rich in the nutrient include milk, liver, carrots and dark-green leafy vegetables, such as spinach. Interestingly, adolescents - up to 16 years of age- are being more affected by the current outbreak, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).?In view of the fact that measles is more severe in young children, the campaign will still target nine-month to five-year-old children,? said Dr. Buhle Ncube, WHO Officer in Charge. Even though this campaign targets young children, those who are unvaccinated are most at risk. Measles can infect anyone, regardless of education and social status.?The message here is that we want to reach all children under five, Batswana or not,? UNICEF Deputy Representative Marcus Betts said. ?We encourage all members of the community to bring their children forward.? By EUNA LHEE

 

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Re: Botswana: measles outbreak

Re: Botswana: measles outbreak

Source: http://www.gov.bw/cgi-bin/news.cgi?d=20091223&i=Kgatleng_District_confirms_three_measles_cases

Kgatleng District confirms three measles cases
23 December, 2009

MOCHUDI - There are 28 suspected and three confirmed cases of measles in the Kgatleng District.

The principal registered nurse, Mrs Antoinette Ramatsia revealed during the child welfare competition in Mochudi last week that there was an outbreak of measles in children between the ages of 10 to 19 years and therefore people needed to be alert. She said fine rashes, a running nose, cough and red eyes were symptoms of measles.

However, she noted that government has embarked on strategies that could help identify early and treat childhood illnesses in order to avoid complications that could be detrimental to human life.

The integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) strategy focuses on diseases such as cough, diarrhea, malaria and measles. She said the strategy considered the childs health in its totality.

Mrs Ramatsia encouraged the parents to play an active role in the prevention, care and support by enrolling in programmes aimed at cushioning the effects of HIV/AIDS. She said disseminating information to the loved ones could go a long way in reducing the consequences of the disease.

The principal registered nurse urged the parents to value the importance of growth monitoring as ones weight and height were indications of the bodys ability to progress through the stages of life.

She stated that collective efforts between the parents, the teachers and the health personnel could play a critical role in terms of child survival.

She said child care was an integral part of the formation of human life and its sustainability into the future.

Giving the objectives of the day, Mr Onthusitse Moube said it was to sensitise and involve the caregivers on child growth, monitoring and the promotion of good nutrition. It was also meant to educate the caregivers on prevention and the management of childhood illnesses as well as to forge partnerships with community leaders and stakeholders in improving child health.

Mr Moube said the Millennium Development Goals on health are advocating for the reduction of childhood morbidity and mortality as well as improving the quality of care provided to the children who are below the age of five years at the community/family level and at the health facilities level. BOPA

 

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Re: Botswana: measles outbreak

Re: Botswana: measles outbreak

Source: http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=26&dir=2010/January/Thursday7

Measles outbreak still ongoing, Ministry warns

MARANYANE NGWANAAMOTHO
Staff Writer

The Ministry of Health has warned people with symptoms of measles to seek medical help immediately as the disease is still ongoing since it broke out in October last year.

So far 147 cases have been confirmed. The Ministry has however admitted that there is need for proper surveillance systems, case management and referral systems in order to curb the disease.

Exposure to measles as well as failure to being vaccinated during childhood are some of the factors identified by the Ministry as causing measles to spread.

HIV and AIDS is another factor that reduces the duration of post vaccination immunity as it weakens an individual's system leaving it prone to other infections. People who have suffered some cancer forms are also at high risk of contracting measles.

Recovery from measles which takes between five to 35 days varies from individual to individual depending on the strength of their immune system.

Symptoms of measles are fever, headache, cough, muscle and joint pain with running nose, reddish discolouration of the eye (conjunctivitis) and rash that usually starts around the face.

 

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Re: Botswana: measles outbreak

Re: Botswana: measles outbreak

Source: http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=7&dir=2010/February/Thursday11

Thursday, 11 February 2010 | Vol.27 No.22
Ministry contains measles outbreak - El-Halabi

MARANYANE NGWANAAMOTHO
Staff Writer

The Ministry of Health says although measles infection rates have not dropped since October last year, the situation is not alarming.

Director of Public Health Shanaaz El-Halabi has told Mmegi however that they are still receiving reports of the disease outbreak in schools and various places across the country.

However, she said that they remain at high alert and that the ministry is managing the disease.

"Our districts are on high alert and are managing the outbreak quite well. Though infection rates are still high, our health facilities are coping," she said.

The director said that they continue to advise people to protect themselves from measles by avoiding physical contact with those infected and to isolate sufferers to control the spread of the disease.

El-Halabi said that recovery from measles takes between five to 35 days, which is mostly dependent on the strength of a persons' immune system.

She advised people with unexplained fever, headache, cough, muscle and joint pain with running nose, reddish discolouration of the eye (conjunctivitis) and rash that usually starts around the face to seek medical help.

 

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Re: Botswana: measles outbreak

Re: Botswana: measles outbreak

Source: http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=2782&dir=2010/June/Monday7

Monday, 07 June 2010

Significant measles cases reports in Sefhophe/ Serule
Onalenna Modikwa
Staff Writer
SELEBI-PHIKWE: Selebi-Phikwe town has registered an increasing number of Measles cases with a pick in notification observed in week 11 of this year.

A significant number have been cases referred from Sefhophe and Serule clinics.

The majority are of school-going age with unknown vaccination status. Cumulatively about 97 cases have been suspected and notified through the department's weekly surveillance systems.

District Officer and Urban Development Committee official, Letlhogonolo Nkolane, has indicated that the district response is that clients with severe symptoms are currently isolated in Industrial clinic where the capacity to admit more than six patients is limited. "Several rapid response team meetings have been convened to review district response and efforts to identify a more appropriate and bigger isolation facility have proved a daunting task." He noted that community sensitisation is ongoing and consultative meetings with District Health Teams from Tonota and Bobirwa have been held to investigate and break the cycle of transmission at local level. "The overall trend in weekly cases is downward and we still hope that the trend could be sustained..."

 

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Re: Botswana: measles outbreaks

Source: http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=3025&dir=2010/June/Thursday17

Headmaster fears for measles attack

PATRICIA MAGANU
Staff Writer

TONOTA: The headmaster of Shashe Senior Secondary School, Abram Thapedi, says they are awaiting results to see if there could be an outbreak of measles in the school.

Thapedi says the children have developed rashes and they started to think that it could be measles. "The students started developing rashes and we thought the symptoms could be those of measles but we did not want to make conclusions until the lab results of the blood specimen taken from some of the students come back," he said. Thapedi says they have notified the parents of the students who are affected.

"We have notified their parents and we are giving them permission to go home because we want to isolate them as we do not know what this rash is yet," he added.

The headmaster further said that 190 students so far have been affected by the rash. Shashe School has 1,600 students.

He further said samples were taken from some students to see what the condition is but it is not yet confirmed that it is measles though some sources who work in the school claim that three students who have been to the clinic have had it confirmed. The sources say that the children started getting sick around Friday or Saturday last week. "Today some of them are being given permission to go home," said the source.