From January to March, nearly 17,500 cases of this highly contagious viral disease were listed on the continent according to the WHO, where twenty countries have reported epidemics.
Le Monde with AFP
Africa is particularly affected by the explosion of measles cases due to the delay in children’s vaccination, with an increase of 400 % for the first three months of 2022 compared to the same period of 2021, A Announced Thursday, April 28, the Regional Bureau of the World Health Organization (WHO).
From January to March, nearly 17,500 cases of this highly contagious viral disease were listed on the continent, where twenty countries reported epidemics of measles, eight more than during the first three months of 2021, specifies The WHO Africa Bureau in a press release.
Wednesday, April 27, WHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) had announced in Geneva that the cases reported in measles had jumped 79 % worldwide during the first two months of the year In comparison with the same period of 2021. Most epidemics have been reported in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean region, said the two UN organizations.
According to Africa WHO, other diseases avoidable by vaccination are also increasing. Twenty-four African countries have confirmed epidemics of a polio variant in 2021, four more than in 2020. Thirteen reported yellow fever epidemics, against nine in 2020 and three in 2019.
The COVVI-19 pandemic, which overwhelmed health systems, “disrupted systematic immunization services in many African countries and forced to suspend vaccination campaigns”, explains WHO Africa.
Africa fights against COVID-19 “but we must not forget other threats to health,” said Doctor Matshidiso Moeti, OMS Africa director, quoted in online, cited in the press release.