Measles breaks out in Dodoma, 7 diagnosed

What you need to know:

Preliminary investigations indicate that the afflicted contracted the disease from a relative who visited them from Singida Region.

Dodoma. Seven people in Mpendo Ward, Chemba District, have been dignosed with measles. Five of the patients are male.

Chemba District commissioner Simon Odunga told The Citizen on Saturday that the seven were diagnosed on September 1 and were being treated at the district hospital.

According to him, the patients are aged between eight and 20.

He said preliminary investigations indicate that the afflicted contracted the disease from a relative who visited them from Singida Region.

 “A team of experts has camped here and we have started to vaccinate children aged one and two so as to protect them from the disease. Our checks have established that those who have contracted the disease were not vaccinated.” He said the patients’ conditions were improving.

Dodoma regional medical officer James Kiologwe said three villages  — Mpendo, Hania and Magugu — had been affected by the disease.

“From the ages of patients it is clear that they were not vaccinated against measles. That is why they contracted it,” he said.

Dr Kiologwe said a team of experts dispatched to the area contained the disease.

Recently the minister for Health, Community Development, Elderly and Children, Ms Ummy Mwalimu, said the country was facing the shortage of measles and rubella vaccines.

However, she noted that the government had received funds for procuring the vaccines.