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Measles outbreak in Burkina Faso

Burkina_Bama_students – Students in Bama, western Burkina Faso, sitting in a makeshift classroom after flooding wiped away homes and buildings in the area. Brahima Ouedraogo/IRIN
    OUAGADOUGOU

    A measles outbreak in Burkina Faso since late January has affected more than 400 people nationwide and led to at least one recorded death, officials from the Ministry of Health told IRIN.



    “This is atypical because in recent years we have witnessed a decline in cases,” said Ousmane Badolo, the ministry's director of epidemiological surveillance.



    The most recent reported cases were isolated infections in 2005 and 2006, he told IRIN.



    The 2009 outbreak occurred in four health districts: Fada (east), Bogodogo (centre), Sindou (west), and Batie (southwest).



    The outbreak affected those who had not participated in recent vaccination campaigns, according to Badolo. The health director said he suspected an increase in cases brought in from infected immigrants. “We need to put more stress on a routine vaccination campaign for children under nine months,” he said.



    As of 10 February, the Health Ministry had sent teams to investigate affected areas.



    pt/oa/np

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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