Katana measles campaign reaches over 50,000 children

A measles vaccination campaign in the Katana area of South Kivu province between 26-29 April reached about 96 percent of the target population of 56,216 children, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) told IRIN. In a report, IRC said the campaign was conducted in collaboration with local health authorities, WHO, UNICEF, SCF-UK and MSF. Children also received polio vaccinations. The campaign was organised as a result of a survey carried out in February, which indicated that three percent of Katana's children under the age of two had died from measles during a recent outbreak. Another vaccination campaign will be conducted in the adjacent Kabare zone later in May, the report added. Meanwhile, humanitarian sources told IRIN there were some 83 cases of suspected meningitis in Katana during the first three months of 1999, with 23 deaths recorded.