Kampala, 24 January (IANS). Uganda’s Health Ministry has said that five children have died of measles in the country’s north-eastern districts of Nabilatuk and Amudat. Four children died in Nabilatuk and one in Amudat. Apart from this, 11 patients are hospitalized and 5 others are being treated in the external department.
The ministry confirmed an outbreak of measles in Amudat district on 6 January. According to the ministry report, Nabilatuk has so far reported 147 cases and 4 deaths, while Amudat has reported 47 cases and 1 death.
The Amudat district task force held its first meeting on January 15 to plan to mobilize resources to prevent and control the disease. According to Xinhua News Agency, last year an outbreak of measles was seen in 56 districts of the country.
According to the World Health Organization, measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. It spreads through breathing, coughing or sneezing of an infected person. Measles especially affects children and can cause serious illness, complications, and death.
Measles affects the respiratory system and spreads throughout the body. Its symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose and rash all over the body.
Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles. This vaccine is safe and helps the body fight the virus.
Before the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963, large-scale measles epidemics occurred every two to three years, causing approximately 2.6 million deaths each year. Measles is expected to cause 1,07,500 deaths in 2023, most of them children under five, despite the availability of a safe and affordable vaccine.
–IANS
AS/
