Whooping cough outbreak and measles cases in Darfur
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported that the whooping cough outbreak is still on-going in the locality of El Sareif in North Darfur. The total number of suspected cases has reached 58, of which two fatal. All identified cases are being treated. WHO provided technical and operational support to a rapid response team from the Epidemiology Department of the State Ministry of Health. The team is conducting active search for cases. Coordination with the Expanded Programme on Immunisation is underway to revise the vaccination coverage in the area. In South Darfur’s El Serif camp for the displaced, the Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors without borders-Belgium has reported four suspected cases of measles. Samples have been taken for laboratory testing. A highly contagious disease, measles remains one of the leading causes of death among young children globally, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine. Overcrowding in the Darfuri camps for the displaced greatly increases the risk of infection, according to WHO. File photo by Albert Gonzalez Farran /Unamid Related: Scabies and whooping cough epidemic among North Darfur children (22 October 2013)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported that the whooping cough outbreak is still on-going in the locality of El Sareif in North Darfur. The total number of suspected cases has reached 58, of which two fatal. All identified cases are being treated. WHO provided technical and operational support to a rapid response team from the Epidemiology Department of the State Ministry of Health. The team is conducting active search for cases. Coordination with the Expanded Programme on Immunisation is underway to revise the vaccination coverage in the area.
In South Darfur’s El Serif camp for the displaced, the Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors without borders-Belgium has reported four suspected cases of measles. Samples have been taken for laboratory testing. A highly contagious disease, measles remains one of the leading causes of death among young children globally, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine. Overcrowding in the Darfuri camps for the displaced greatly increases the risk of infection, according to WHO.
File photo by Albert Gonzalez Farran /Unamid
Related: Scabies and whooping cough epidemic among North Darfur children (22 October 2013)
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