2018 Madagascar measles outbreak

2018 Madagascar measles outbreak

Disease	[[Measles|Measles]]
Virus strain	[[|{{{virus_strain}}}]]
Origin	[[|{{{origin}}}]]
Date	2018–2019
Confirmed cases	118,000
Deaths	1,200
This disease outbreak related article is a stub.

The 2018 Madagascar measles outbreak was a significant public health crisis that occurred in Madagascar between 2018 and 2019. The outbreak resulted in over 118,000 confirmed cases and approximately 1,200 deaths, making it one of the largest measles outbreaks in the country's history.

Background

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that is preventable through vaccination. Despite the availability of the measles vaccine, Madagascar faced challenges in achieving high vaccination coverage due to logistical issues, limited healthcare infrastructure, and vaccine hesitancy.

Outbreak

The outbreak began in September 2018 and rapidly spread across the island nation. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Malagasy Ministry of Health reported that the outbreak was exacerbated by low vaccination rates, with only 58% of the population vaccinated against measles at the time.

Transmission

Measles is transmitted via respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes. The virus can remain airborne or live on surfaces for several hours, making it highly transmissible in densely populated areas.

Symptoms

The symptoms of measles include high fever, cough, runny nose, and a characteristic red rash. Complications can include diarrhea, pneumonia, and encephalitis, which can be fatal, especially in malnourished children.

Response

The response to the outbreak involved a mass vaccination campaign led by the Malagasy government, with support from international organizations such as the WHO and UNICEF. The campaign aimed to vaccinate millions of children to curb the spread of the disease.

Challenges

The response faced several challenges, including reaching remote communities, addressing vaccine hesitancy, and ensuring adequate supply and distribution of vaccines.

Impact

The outbreak highlighted the importance of maintaining high vaccination coverage and the need for robust healthcare systems to prevent and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. It also underscored the global health community's role in supporting countries with limited resources.

Also see

• Measles
• Vaccination
• World Health Organization
• Public health
• Infectious disease outbreaks