At least 14 children have died in Zimbabwe’s Manicaland province following a measles outbreak in the region, the Ministry of Health said on Thursday.
In a statement, the ministry said the 14 were among the 72 cases that have been recorded in the province that borders Mozambique.
“Of the reported cases, only nine had been vaccinated, while the remainder had not been vaccinated or their vaccination status is unknown,” the ministry said.
It announced the launch of a mass vaccination campaign in the province.
“To control this outbreak, the ministry has started a mass vaccination campaign in Mutasa District, Manicaland Province, targeting the six months-to-15 years age group, regardless of their vaccination status,” it said.
According to the World Health Organisation, administration of two doses of the measles vaccine results in long-lasting protection against the potentially deadly disease.
Measles is one of the six child killer diseases in Zimbabwe, together with poliomyelitis, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus and tuberculosis.
JN/APA