Measles epidemic in the Northwest kills 15 people

The outbreak of measles has resurfaced in the Northwest Region of Cameroon. From the daily Le Messager, in its Wednesday, August 19, 2015 edition “the Borough of Menchum Valley, specifically Banekouma, recorded the highest number of victims".

According to the Mayor of the city, Num Elias Ihumbru, “this epidemic has already caused close to 15 deaths out of more than 114 reported cases".

To justify this resurgence of the disease, the health authorities in the region pointed an accusing finger on what they call 'traditional considerations', reported the journal.

"This measles epidemic is due to the fact that parents refuse to vaccinate their children and depend on traditional treatments which unfortunately are not fruitful," said Dr. Julius Sama, head of the regional vaccination unit.

"This attitude resulted to, as a consequence, the spread of the disease. And less update on the response campaign to identify contamination. The declaration of the measles epidemic in July noted some 106 cases of measles reported in 11 districts of this region against two deaths, which accumulate to soon exceed 20”, noted the journal.

Faced with this ramping up of measles, a vaccination campaign was announced from August 25 to 30 2015. But according to sources of the journal, this campaign "is confined to Bamenda, Chief place of region and not Benakouma where the most damage is recorded.”

According to the World Health Organization, measles remains one of the important causes of death among young children. In Cameroon, measles vaccine is among the eleven administered free of charge for children from zero to 11 months by the expanded programme on immunization. "Nevertheless, in 2014, 725 cases of measles were reported with16 deaths", noted the journal.