485 cases of measles recorded in
North Western Zambia
Solwezi – A total of 485 accumulative cases of measles have been
reported in North Western province so far with 14 deaths recorded.
Provincial health director Dr. Chipayeni Mtonga told the North
Western provincial development coordinating committee meeting in
Solwezi yesterday that deaths ranged from as young as two weeks old
babies to as old as 47 years old.
He said the first measles case in the province was reported in
August from a refugee who came from Mayukwayukwa refugee settlement.
Dr. Mtonga said out of the reported cases Mwinilunga has recorded
71 and only two cases in Kasempa so far.
He said the death rate represents a three percent of the total
reported cases which he said was not bad and has been maintained so
far.
Dr. Mtonga added that the death rate could have been reduced if
people in the affected areas were reporting early to health
institutions and maintained good nutrition.
He said currently the department was conducting a vaccination
campaign with a number of Solwezi areas already covered including
the entire Meheba refugee settlement.
He added that the authorities were planning of covering the
entire province later to immunize people from the age of six to 15
years.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mtonga disclosed that North Western province has a
HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of 9.2 percent with a higher prevalence
being with men than women.
He however, said despite the provincial rate seem to be that low,
urban areas of the province had higher prevalence rate with
Mwinilunga and Solwezi recording about 27 percent and 23 percent
respectively.
