Since December, 12 children have died of measles in Tanzania’s Mlele district, according to district commissioner Majid Mwanga.
He also stated that 847 children in the district were infected with measles between December and February.
Mr. Mwanga stated that health workers have vaccinated 16,480 children so far and that the exercise is still ongoing.
The government has urged residents to abandon false beliefs, such as that their children died after being bewitched, and to get their children vaccinated.
Tanzania’s Minister of Health, Ummy Mwalimu, announced a measles outbreak in seven regions five months ago. He launched a nationwide campaign to provide measles and rubella vaccinations to children under the age of five.
Measles can affect people of all ages, but it primarily affects children under the age of five.
Measles typically begins with cold-like symptoms and progresses to a rash a few days later. Small spots in the mouth may also occur in some people.
