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December 18, 2002

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"UNICEF Starts Measles Vaccinations in Congo"

Associated Press (www.ap.org) (12/17/02)

A six-day campaign to vaccinate 3.5 million children in the Congo against measles commenced Tuesday in North Kivu and Eastern Kasai, according to UNICEF.  Measles is second only to malaria in the number of child deaths it causes in the Congo, and UNICEF estimates that more than 50 percent of the children there are not vaccinated against the disease.  So far this year, 222 deaths have been recorded out of approximately 26,000 official cases of measles recorded in Congolese health clinics; but as most Congolese have no access to health care, UNICEF says the actual statistics are likely much higher.

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