Zimbabwe is currently facing a tragic and growing rise in measles cases. Still ongoing, the epidemic has already killed more than 150 children and more than 2,000 infections have been reported in the country. “As of August 15, the cumulative figures in the country stood at 2,056 cases and 157 deaths“, laments the Minister of Information Monica Mutsvangwa.
Since the appearance of the first case at the beginning of August, the deaths nearly doubled in less than a week. For “deal with the emergency” of the surge in cases, the government has announced that it will redouble its efforts in the vaccination campaign and will dip into the national disaster fund. He also asked for the support of religious leaders to encourage people to get vaccinated. According to the Ministry of Health, this new epidemic even started during religious gatherings.
An explosion of measles cases since Covid-19
But Zimbabwe is not the only country experiencing a resurgence of the virus. Following the Covid-19 health crisis, the number of measles cases has increased worldwide, by almost 80% in January and February 2022 alone compared to the year before. The cause ? The brake imposed by the multiple confinements to the vaccination of the youngest.
Africa is currently among the hardest hit continents, with a jump of more than 400% of recorded cases in the first quarter of 2022, due to a delay in vaccination in children, according to the WHO Africa office.
Measles mainly affects children, notably causing red rash which appears first on the face and then on the rest of the body. It can also cause diarrhea leading to dehydration, and, in the worst cases, blindness, severe respiratory infections or death.
