Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
Week 8: 14 – 20 February 2022
Data as reported by: 17:00; 20 February 2022
...
Measles Togo
334 cases
0 Deaths
0.0% CFR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
On 9 February 2022, Togolese health authorities declared a measles
outbreak after confirmation at the National Referral Laboratory for
Epidemic prone Diseases. The suspected cases were reported
from health districts of Agoe, Ave, Bassar, Golfe and Zio. As of
11 February 2022, six health districts of Zio, Agoe, Golfe, Kpélé,
Tchaoudjo and Bassar are experiencing measles outbreak, with a
cumulative number of 334 suspected cases, 73 confirmed cases
and 0 death (case fatality ratio (CFR=0.0%).
The six affected health districts are from five medical regions
(Maritime, Grand-Lomé, Plateaux, Centrale, and Kara) out of six in
the country. Zio district has reported the highest number of cases
at 213 (63.7%), followed by Bassar district with 40 cases (11.9%),
and Agoe district with 28 cases (8.4%).
The measles outbreak was first reported in Zio district in early
November 2021. The index case is a 30-month-old girl who
consulted at the Tsévié Polyclinic for fever, lack of appetite, skin
rash, and intense general body weakness on 25 November 2021.
The index case had an onset of symptoms on 20 November 2021.
A sample was collected from this case and laboratory results
confirmed her positive for Measles IgM on 30 November 2021.
Additional suspected measles cases have been reported from Zio
district and other districts from December 2021 until February
2022.
Preliminary investigations found no epidemiological links among
cases reported from the different affected districts. Basing on
anecdotal reports, the first case from Bassar district has been
imported from Nigeria. Among the 73 confirmed cases, eight were
vaccinated though only five cases received two doses of measles
vaccine, 35 (47.9%) have an unknown vaccination status, and 29
(39.7%) are unvaccinated.
PUBLIC HEATH ACTIONS
A rapid risk assessment for the ongoing measles outbreak
has been conducted by the Ministry of Health.
The rapid investigations in each affected district have been
conducted
Measles vaccination responses around cases has been also
conducted.
The country has submitted to the Global Alliance for Vaccines
and Immunization (GAVI) a request for measles vaccine for a
catch-up measles vaccination campaign targeting 1 468 732
children aged between nine to 59 months.
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
Although no death has been reported to-date, the speed at which
this measles outbreak is spreading is concerning. Within about
one month period, the number of affected districts increased
from one (Zio district) to six. There is therefore an urgent need to
control this outbreak. Among the confirmed cases, the measles
vaccination coverage is very low with only 6.8% of cases that
received two doses of the measles containing vaccine.
PROPOSED ACTIONS
A good vaccination coverage against measles remains the
key for outbreaks prevention and control. The required
efforts and resources should thus be deployed to improve
the routine and supplementary immunization coverages.
While implementing control measures for the ongoing
measles outbreak, it is also essential to strengthen the
measles and rubella elimination program activities for the
country.
...
View/Open
OEW08-1420022022.pdf (1.760Mb)
https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/352056
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
Week 8: 14 – 20 February 2022
Data as reported by: 17:00; 20 February 2022
...
Measles Togo
334 cases
0 Deaths
0.0% CFR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
On 9 February 2022, Togolese health authorities declared a measles
outbreak after confirmation at the National Referral Laboratory for
Epidemic prone Diseases. The suspected cases were reported
from health districts of Agoe, Ave, Bassar, Golfe and Zio. As of
11 February 2022, six health districts of Zio, Agoe, Golfe, Kpélé,
Tchaoudjo and Bassar are experiencing measles outbreak, with a
cumulative number of 334 suspected cases, 73 confirmed cases
and 0 death (case fatality ratio (CFR=0.0%).
The six affected health districts are from five medical regions
(Maritime, Grand-Lomé, Plateaux, Centrale, and Kara) out of six in
the country. Zio district has reported the highest number of cases
at 213 (63.7%), followed by Bassar district with 40 cases (11.9%),
and Agoe district with 28 cases (8.4%).
The measles outbreak was first reported in Zio district in early
November 2021. The index case is a 30-month-old girl who
consulted at the Tsévié Polyclinic for fever, lack of appetite, skin
rash, and intense general body weakness on 25 November 2021.
The index case had an onset of symptoms on 20 November 2021.
A sample was collected from this case and laboratory results
confirmed her positive for Measles IgM on 30 November 2021.
Additional suspected measles cases have been reported from Zio
district and other districts from December 2021 until February
2022.
Preliminary investigations found no epidemiological links among
cases reported from the different affected districts. Basing on
anecdotal reports, the first case from Bassar district has been
imported from Nigeria. Among the 73 confirmed cases, eight were
vaccinated though only five cases received two doses of measles
vaccine, 35 (47.9%) have an unknown vaccination status, and 29
(39.7%) are unvaccinated.
PUBLIC HEATH ACTIONS
A rapid risk assessment for the ongoing measles outbreak
has been conducted by the Ministry of Health.
The rapid investigations in each affected district have been
conducted
Measles vaccination responses around cases has been also
conducted.
The country has submitted to the Global Alliance for Vaccines
and Immunization (GAVI) a request for measles vaccine for a
catch-up measles vaccination campaign targeting 1 468 732
children aged between nine to 59 months.
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
Although no death has been reported to-date, the speed at which
this measles outbreak is spreading is concerning. Within about
one month period, the number of affected districts increased
from one (Zio district) to six. There is therefore an urgent need to
control this outbreak. Among the confirmed cases, the measles
vaccination coverage is very low with only 6.8% of cases that
received two doses of the measles containing vaccine.
PROPOSED ACTIONS
A good vaccination coverage against measles remains the
key for outbreaks prevention and control. The required
efforts and resources should thus be deployed to improve
the routine and supplementary immunization coverages.
While implementing control measures for the ongoing
measles outbreak, it is also essential to strengthen the
measles and rubella elimination program activities for the
country.
...
View/Open
OEW08-1420022022.pdf (1.760Mb)
https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/352056
