APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) Hospital reports suggest that 13 people died of measles outbreak in five districts in Hadiya Zone of Central Ethiopia.
A general practitioner at Shone Primary Hospital in Hadiya Zone, Dr. Fabyie Ayele, told APA this weekend that measles had been reported as an epidemic in the Zone some two months back.
“The outbreak is exposing the local community to severe stress, social and economic problems,” he said.
Dr. Fabiye said that more than 200 people in the Zone were diagnosed to have been infected by measles. He further said that over 80 people who have been attacked by the measles are being treated at ICU (intensive care unit) level in the hospital.
Although it is the season of measles, failing to have vaccinated children when they should have been is the primary reason for the widespread occurrence of the disease, according to Dr. Fabiye.
Three weeks ago, due to the rise of the number of patients, we left the hospital and stayed outside to provide services. However, we were forced to go back to the hospital because the tents provided were full of patients making our task very difficult, Dr. Fabiye said.
Apart from the ones who have been admitted in the hospital, there are still measles patients who are getting treatment in more than three different places, Dr. Fabiye said.
The experts who say that Shone Primary Hospital announced about the cholera outbreak some two months back, the responses coming from the districts have caused the problem to spread, according to Dr. Fabiye.
MG/as/APA
 |
ReplyForward
|