A measles outbreak in Zimbabwe has killed at least one hundred and fifty-seven (157) children, with more than two thousand (2,000) infections reported across the country.
The Zimbabwe Government said this on Tuesday stating that cases have been growing rapidly in the southern African nation since authorities said the first infection was logged earlier this month, with reported deaths almost doubling in less than a week.
Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa while briefing journalists after a weekly cabinet meeting said that as of the 15th of August the cumulative figures across the country has risen to two thousand and fifty-six (2,056) cases and one hundred and fifty-seven (157) deaths,”.
Monica said the government was going to step up vaccinations, and has invoked special legislation allowing it to draw money from the national disaster fund “to deal with the emergency.”
She said the government was to engage with traditional and faith leaders to garner their support with the vaccination campaign, adding all victims were not vaccinated.
The measles virus attacks mainly children with the most serious complications including blindness, brain swelling, diarrhea and severe respiratory infections.
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