By Umaru Fofana
The UN children’s agency, UNICEF, has confirmed that 68 cases of measles have been reported in and around Freetown so far this year.
It comes as reports emerge of a similar outbreak in Kono, Bo and Port Loko districts.
The Freetown cases are said to be “epidemiologically linked to cases seen last year” according to laboratory tests which have however not confirmed the genetics.
A couple of weeks ago, the Section Chief of Mamamah, in Port Loko District called Politico to ask for help to contain what he said was a measles outbreak.
Sounding worried, Pa Alimamy Bongo Kamara II said some children had died in and around the town but did not specify number, saying there was no hospital to help.
However the US charity, Partners In health has since gone to the area to administer vaccines, while the recent polio vaccines from 26-29 February for children under five years also targeted some children for a measles vaccine.
A UN source told Politico that “routine measles vaccination coverage needs to be strengthened for more sustainable protection”.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr Brima Kargbo attributed the recent cases to the country having missed out on its measles campaign in 2014 due to the Ebola outbreak.
But health minister, Dr Abubakarr Fofana, who said he was not aware of the recent cases, told Politico that the country managed to catch up on the 2014 vaccines in 2015 after a letup in the Ebola outbreak.
(C) Politico 03/0316
