Sierra Leone Suffers Another Major Disease Outbreak

Dr. Mariama Murray, Child Health Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) deputy Programme Manager has in a press conference at the Ministry of Lands, Country Planning and Environment, Conference Room, 3rd Floor, Youyi Building, Freetown on Thursday 21st April, 2016 confirmed that Sierra Leone is currently suffering from a Measles Outbreak.

Dr. Mariama Murray said the current Measles Outbreak commenced in August 2015 in Kono district and has continued to spread in 2016 affecting 12 (86%) districts.

She said, in 2016, a total of 977 suspected cases with 64 laboratory confirmed cases and 815 confirmed by epidemiological linkage have been investigated. She confirmed that the majority of cases have been reported from Western Area, Bombali, Kenema, Bo, Koinadugu and Kambia districts.

She said most (90.7%) of the measles cases are under 15years of age with the highest (68.8%) proportion under five. She confirmed that there is still active transmission of measles with 32% of cases occurring between the ages of 5-15 years.

Dr. Mariama Murray confirmed that Sierra Leone is rolling out nationwide campaign in two phases. “We are starting with our focus on Western Area due to an unprecedented increase in measles cases.” She said. The immunisation exercise for children under 15yrs will start today, Monday 25th April, and end on Sunday 1st May,2016 for children in Western Area and starting on Monday 9th May, 2016, ending on Sunday 15th May, 2016 for children in other districts.. She highighted, the campaign will also focus on the schools and all school going children under 15yrs will be receiving the measles marklate.

Dr. Murray, said the symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes (conjunctivitis), and feeling run down (malaise). The blotchy rash unusual lasts 5 to 6 days. She said two or three days after the symptoms begin, tiny white spots (Koplik’s spots) may appear inside the mouth.