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Measles spreads in Dar
2006-09-09 09:39:40
By Francisca Binamungu
More than 360 cases of measles have been reported in Dar es Salaam in the past two weeks and health workers said the disease continues to spread despite concerted efforts to control it, The Guardian can report.
At the same time, Dar es Salaam City Medical Officer Dr Deo Mtasiwa, allayed fears that the cases of measles so far diagnosed are variants of the deadly rubella, which is commonly known as German measles or 3 day measles. Rubella kills patients within three days, he said.
”People infected with rubella are in most danger in the first week of infection, as the symptoms they show are a rash. During this period, patients do not show other symptoms and spread the virus very fast. The cases of measles reported in Dar es Salaam are not rubella,” Dr Mtasiwa insisted.
Spot checks by The Guardian at various centres at the Ilala Municipal Hospital yesterday established that some new born babies had been diagnosed with measles.
Dr Mtasiwa said 197 measles cases had been detected in Ilala, 107 in Kinondoni and 48 in Temeke, in addition to 15 cases reported yesterday at Mnyamani Health Centre in Ilala.
According to medical officer in-charge at Mnyamani, Dr Julius Keto, children under one year old are expected to have acquired body immunity from their mothers and can only be vaccinated at the age of nine months.
Among the patients who spoke from their hospital beds was, Grace Andrea (28), a resident of Vingunguti. She had swollen eyes, red and squashy lips with a running nose that inflicted serious pain on her.
She could not explain how she fell victim to measles because she had been vaccinated.
”I’m grateful to the doctors who have worked round the clock to save my life. I pray that the disease is brought under control because it causes a lot of pain. I just can’t explain how I contracted it,” Grace said.
”An outbreak of this kind surprises many people as it attacks both children and grown ups alike. Normally, adults are not vulnerable in the group,” Dr Keta said.
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