Zimbabwe: Anti-Vaxxers Hamper Measles Fight

[9ideon]

I've added a little twist in the form of a second (piece of 3rd and 4th) article I found. Also, pay attention to the last paragraph of the first article, let that sink in a little.


Anti-vaxxers hamper measles fight

A measles outbreak in Zimbabwe has killed over 150 children. The government has launched a mass vaccination campaign to contain the spread, but faces stiff resistance from non-vaccinated families due to religious beliefs.


A measles vaccination can protect a child against infection or severe illness

Zimbabwe has reported at least 2,056 cases of measlesas of mid-August. Virtually all of the 157 recorded deaths were in children who had not been vaccinated, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said last week.

The outbreak began in the eastern Manicaland province at the beginning of August, spreading rapidly across the country. Health authorities are scrambling to contain the spread.

The government has announced a mass vaccination campaign targeting children between the ages of six months and 15 years. Authorities are also trying to engage traditional and faith leaders to support the drive.

Zimbabwe has continued vaccinating children against measles during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the drive has been hampered by religious groups preaching against vaccines.

Rejection of modern medicine

The Christian sects in question are against modern medicine and have told their members to rely on self-proclaimed prophets for healing.


Health authorities have tried to keep up with measles vaccines, while also vaccinating against COVID-19

DW caught up with one of the religious groups on an annual pilgrimage in Manicaland, where thousands of members of the Johane Marange Apostolic sect had gathered to listen to an oracle. The church doctrine does not allow its members to be vaccinated or seek medical treatment when they fall sick.

A preventable fatal disease

Measles is among the most infectious diseases in the world. The childhood infection is caused by a virus that can be fatal for small children. It primarily spreads in the air by coughing, sneezing or through close contact. Symptoms include coughing, fever and a skin rash. However, a vaccine can easily prevent the disease.

But 56-year-old sect member Kuziva Kudzanai told DW it was a sin to seek medical treatment. "If anyone gets sick, they will go to the church elders for prayers," he insisted.

Church gatherings that have resumed following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions have themselves "led to the spread of measles to previously unaffected areas," the Health Ministry said in a statement last week.

Added pregnancy risks

The prohibition on medical care also applies to pregnant women, sect member Janet Hanyanisi told DW. "We are not allowed to be vaccinated or even to go to a hospital for treatment. Instead, we go to our church midwives for delivery," she said.

Health authorities have struggled to break down some religious communities' resistance to vaccinating their children, who they believe are speeding up the spread of the disease.


Some religious sects won't allow pregnant women in Zimbabwe to get medical assistance

"So far what we have seen that almost all the dead are unvaccinated children," said Cephas Hote, a medical officer in Mutasa District, one of the worst-affected regions. He added that there were a few infections among vaccinated children, but only with mild symptoms.

Scramble to contain measles

The government has reacted to the outbreak by launching a national measles vaccination blitz. July Moyo, a minister in the local government, said several government departments and the police are enforcing the vaccination to "tackle the emergency."

Moyo hopes the involvement of the entire government will ensure that "people, especially children, get vaccinated."

Before the current outbreak, Zimbabwe had not recorded a single measles case for more than 10 years. Public health authorities are hoping the current outbreak can be contained before it becomes an epidemic.

Scientists estimate more than 90% of the population needs to be immunized to prevent measles outbreaks.

In April, the World Health Organization warned of an increase in measles cases in vulnerable countries as a result of a disruption of services due to COVID-19.

UNICEF has said about 25 million children worldwide have missed out on routine immunizations against common childhood diseases, calling it a "red alert" for child health.

Source

______________________________________________________________________________

Now, like I mentioned at the start, a little twist. One could assume that the article above (in Holland the "fearless free press" speaks of 600 deaths) if there's something planned for Zimbabwe.

______________________________________________________________________________

Anyway, look at this report from 1991.

Measles epidemic in Harare, Zimbabwe, despite high measles immunization coverage rates


Abstract

Despite rapidly increasing measles immunization coverage in Harare city, measles remains endemic, and regular outbreaks occur.

The most recent occurred in 1988, when the measles immunization coverage was 83%. We have carried out a retrospective study of the clinical and epidemiological features of this outbreak to assess whether the present immunization policy needs to be changed.

Of 4357 cases of measles seen at primary health care centers and hospitals in Harare during the outbreak, 1399 (32%) were severe or involved complications that required hospital admission. The peak incidence occurred among under-2-year-olds, followed by that among 5-7-year-olds. Poor nutritional status was significantly more frequent among children who were hospitalized and among those who died.

A total of 59% of all cases aged 9-59 months had documented evidence of measles immunization.

The most frequent complications, which occurred most often among under-5-year-olds, were diarrhea with dehydration, pneumonia, laryngotracheobronchitis, and convulsions, which together affected 56% of hospitalized cases.

The hospital case fatality rate was low (1.43%). In Harare, measles transmission remains a problem, despite high measles immunization coverage rates; the failure rate for the standard Schwarz measles vaccine also appears to be high. There is a need to reduce the number of measles cases among under-9-month-olds and young children.

Further studies into alternative measles vaccines and schedules are required.

Source




Evaluation of a measles vaccine efficacy during a measles outbreak in Mbare, City of Harare Zimbabwe

Through the Zimbabwe Expanded Program of Immunization (ZEPI) introduced in Zimbabwe in 1982, children are vaccinated with the Schwarz-strain vaccine at age 9 months.

Through the ZEPI, measles immunization coverage has increased from 56% in 1981 to 82% in 1995. Nonetheless, measles remains one of Zimbabwe's most important public health problems. The number of reported measles cases has declined, but there is still an unacceptably high level of cases and outbreaks continue to be reported regularly throughout the country.

The efficacy of the measles vaccine used in the ZEPI was evaluated near the end of a measles outbreak which occurred between June and November 1996 in Mbare suburb, with an estimated 1995 population of 120,000. The retrospective study was conducted through interviews with caregivers of 7 or more children aged 9-35 months from each of 30 randomly selected neighborhood clusters.

A total 294 children were considered from the clusters, of whom 83% were vaccinated and 9.5% had measles during the outbreak period.

The attack rates for the vaccinated and unvaccinated were, respectively, 6.9% and 22%. Vaccine efficacy was therefore determined to be 68%. Clinical measles cases identified during outbreaks should be serologically confirmed to achieve a more accurate diagnosis.

Moreover, the Mbare Health Team should conduct a comprehensive evaluation of its measles vaccination program.

Source

Conclusion: The efficacy results fall at the lower end, but within the normal limits, of those expected for measles vaccine as used in Zimbabwe. Steps to increase vaccine coverage are of the highest priority.

Source

_____________________________________________________________________________

Like history is keen on teaching us, it seems that measles have been a ongoing problem in Zimbabwe, There is a clear agenda presented here in which it seems that "they" are going to mandatory jab in Zimbabwe, may Source have mercy on their souls.

[9ideon]

Here we go, WHO is getting involved.

WHO Raises Concern About Scale of Measles Outbreak in Zimbabwe

The World Health Organization said it’s concerned about an ongoing measles outbreak in Zimbabwe, where the disease is spreading rapidly.

“It’s the first in many years at this scale and it’s been progressing quickly among a community that is reticent to accept vaccines,” Fiona Braka, team lead for emergency operations at the WHO, said in an online briefing to reporters Thursday.

Zimbabwe’s Health Ministry this week began a mass-inoculation campaign to curb the spread of the viral illness, which has killed almost 700 children in the past five months. The southern African country recorded 6,444 cases of measles since the first infections were reported in the eastern province of Manicaland in April.

“The case fatality is relatively higher when compared to other recent outbreaks” across Africa, Braka said.

Source