Death toll from measles outbreak in Congo hits 6,000

‘World’s worst’ measles outbreak in the Congo has now killed 6,000 people – almost three times more than the Ebola death toll in the African nation

  • World Health Organisation described Congo measles epidemic as ‘world’s worst’
  • Crippling lack of funding ‘means not enough jabs have been dished out to kids’ 
  • Health resources strained as it tackles an Ebola outbreak that has killed 2,100 

Measles has killed nearly three times as many people as Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, figures show.

Around 6,000 patients have died from measles since the start of 2019, with cases reported in every corner of the African country. 

More than a quarter of a million people have been infected in that time, with the World Health Organisation describing it as the ‘world’s worst outbreak’. 

Despite the growing death-toll, the DRC’s simultaneous Ebola outbreak has gained far more international attention.

The outbreak of the virus has killed at least 2,231 people since the first case was reported in August 2018.  

The WHO said a crippling lack of funding was allowing both epidemics to rage on, as the DRC’s already-limited health resources strain while trying to tackle them both.

Around 6,000 patients have died from measles since the start of 2019, with cases reported in every corner of the African country. More than a quarter of a million people have been infected in that time

While £20million ($26.2m) has already been sent to the Congo in measles aid, the WHO said far more was needed.

It claims at least £30million ($39.3m) will go towards a special six-month plan to immunise older children between the ages of six and 14. 

A vaccine against measles has existed for decades but some 310,000 cases have been reported in Congo since the beginning of 2019.

Health workers in the DRC struggle to access remote parts of the vast country, and jab rates remain low in areas where armed groups operate.

Many resources in DRC have been devoted to the simultaneous outbreak of Ebola, the second worst in history after the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic.  

In September, the government launched an emergency vaccination programme with the aim of immunising more than 800,000 children.

But roughly four million children – around half of the total in the country – remain unvaccinated and not enough jabs are available.

The majority of measles deaths in the country have been infants whose immune systems are too weak to fend off the illness.

Poor infrastructure and lack of access to routine healthcare have also stalled efforts to curb the crisis.

Britain was declared ‘measles free’ by the World Health Organisation in 2016 after a 36-month period with no ‘endemic’ transmission.

But last year it lost its measles-free status three years after the virus was eliminated across the home nations. Uptake of the MMR jab has declined.

Measles death in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the start of 2019 have been mostly children (file image)

The number of Britons vaccinating themselves or their children against the virus has steadily declined in recent years, while cases of measles have quadrupled in the last 12 months. In the first quarter of this year, there were 231 confirmed cases. 

Politicians are alarmed about ‘creeping cynicism’ over the safety of jabs, partly being driven by the antivaxx movement, which spreads scare stories, conspiracy theories and false information about the jabs online.

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads easily from an infected person by coughing, sneezing or even just breathing.

Symptoms develop between six and 19 days after infection, and include a runny nose, cough, sore eyes, a fever and a rash.

The rash appears as red and blotchy marks on the hairline that travel down over several days, turning brown and eventually fading.

Some children complain of disliking bright lights or develop white spots with red backgrounds on their tongue.

In one in 15 cases, measles can cause life-threatening complications including pneumonia, convulsions and encephalitis.

WHAT IS MEASLES, WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS AND HOW CAN YOU CATCH IT?

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads easily from an infected person by coughing, sneezing or even just breathing.

Symptoms develop between six and 19 days after infection, and include a runny nose, cough, sore eyes, a fever and a rash.

The rash appears as red and blotchy marks on the hairline that travel down over several days, turning brown and eventually fading. 

Some children complain of disliking bright lights or develop white spots with red backgrounds on their tongue.

In one in 15 cases, measles can cause life-threatening complications including pneumonia, convulsions and encephalitis.

Dr Ava Easton, chief executive of the Encephalitis Society told MailOnline: ‘Measles can be very serious. 

‘[It] can cause encephalitis which is inflammation of the brain. 

‘Encephalitis can result in death or disability.’

Treatment focuses on staying hydrated, resting and taking painkillers, if necessary.

Measles can be prevented by receiving two vaccinations, the first at 13 months old and the second at three years and four months to five years old.

Source: Great Ormond Street Hospital 

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