Alert issued on measles outbreak

By DANIEL PSIRMOI

Bungoma,Kenya:Medical officer warns blood samples of three children tested positive for disease that affects respiratory system

Health officials have raised alarm over outbreak of measles in Cheptais District, Bungoma County.

Blood samples of three children from Kopsiro Division that had been sent to the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) in Nairobi for analysis, had turned out positive.

Speaking to The Standard, Cheptais District Medical Officer of Health Dr Stephen Ondusu said they had notified the relevant ministry officials of the outbreak, which they fear might spread to other areas.

Dr Ondusu said, with the help of provincial administrators, they have been sensitising the community on the disease that attacks children below ten years of age in order to curb its spread.

“We started the sensitisation campaign even before the results of the samples from the children we suspected were infected came out. Three out of the four samples we sent to Kemri turned out positive,” said Ondusu, adding that they have also taken the campaign to primary schools, where they have stressed the need of notifying medical personnel in case of suspected cases.

He expressed fear that there may be more unreported cases observing that many children in the area have not been immunised.

Ondusu attributed this to the fact that most families in the sub-location alternate between staying in their homes and the moorland area of Chepkitale, at the foot of Mt Elgon which is out of reach to medical officers because of poor roads. There is no health facility in the area.

highly contagious

The medical officer also noted that the district is at the country’s border and that families move in and out of the neighbouring country, thus complicating the work of health workers who may not know whether their children have been immunised or not.

“I call upon other partners including NGOs to assist in efforts to curb this outbreak in order to save the lives of these children,” said Dr Ondusu.

Measles is highly contagious and can lead to several complications such as pneumonia, ear infections, blindness and death if left untreated.

According to Dr Ondusu, the early signs and symptoms are redness of the eyes, typical rashes all over the body and fever.