Ministry of Health spokesperson Kamoto Mbewe says the measles has so far claimed 110 lives from 6252 cases reported since the disease outbreak in the country.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today , Dr Mbewe revealed that Lusaka is the most hit district with 106 deaths recorded out of 4928 cases reported representing 78 percent .
Dr Mbewe said Lundazi district in Eastern Province was the most hit with 789 cases while three lives were lost due to the disease.
Kabwe in Central province recorded 30 cases with no death so far.
He further revea ed that Chibombo recoreded 132 cases with one death while Nyimba recoreded 58 cases, Katete 27and Chama 26 cases and that no death has been recorded in the three districts.
And Dr Mbewe explained that preliminary results indicates that all districts accross the country recorded a 90 percent measles immunisation programme stating that the outbreak is stabilising and has assured the people not to panic as the ministry is doing everything possible to arrest the problem.
He also called on all those who did not take their children for measles immunisatmion programme to do so as their is still room for the exercise.
Meanwhile. Dr Mbewe told ZANIS that the Ministry has sent health personnel to Everly Hone college to investigate the alleged out break of measles at the highest learning institution.
He said the officials are currently on cite taking results and assured the student that they should not pact over the alleged outbreak saying everything is being done.
He said the public would be informed on the development and outcome of the results.
[ ZANIS ]
I wish to commend the ministry for informing the public on the seriousness of the problem at hand, soon it will be rainy season,we will be struggling with cholera! It is my sincere hope that GRZ will be ready for the task and minimise the impact of the two disasters.
these are diseases of the past..i wonder zambia is so behind in everything..very soon it will be cholera outbreak….shame on public health workers in zambia together withbour ever failing government..but how i wish the cud be a cholera outbreak in state house ..maybe these things will be taken seroiusly..
“90 percent immunisation programme…and the outbreak is stabilising”. Are they immunising people after the fact? If that’s the case, what happened to immunising against measles in early childhood? What’s wrong with us that we have people dying from diseases that are virtually extinct in parts of the world?