The country recorded 18 deaths from measles, 17 of them in Cabo Delgado, between July 9 and August 14. A total of 238 measles cases were reported, 170 in Cabo Delgado and 68 in Niassa.

The figures were confirmed today, Monday (19), by the President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi, during the inauguration ceremony of the water supply system in the city of Pemba.

According to official figures, the deaths were recorded outside the health facilities, noting that in Niassa, there have been no new cases since August 8.

On Friday, the national director of Public Health, Quinhas Fernandes, said that 90% of the cases reported in Cabo Delgado, where cases continue to be registered, were in children under 15 and around half (48%) occurred in children without measles vaccination.

"In response to the outbreak, block vaccination was carried out in the affected districts of Chiúre, in Cabo Delgado, Sanga and Cuamba, in Niassa. Likewise, a vaccination campaign is planned for children under the age of 15, in September this year, in Cabo Delgado province and under the age of five in October, in Niassa province," said Quinhas Fernandes, quoted by the newspaper. News.

According to data from the Ministry of Health, from January 2020 to June 2023, the country recorded 2565 cases of measles, 80% of which were reported in the provinces of Niassa, Zambézia, Tete, Manica and Sofala, mainly affecting children under 5 years old.

(Photo DR)