Nagaland | Suspected measles-related disease claims 3 lives in state

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DIMAPUR | September 28, 2018:

Three lives have been claimed by suspected measles-related diseases in  Kiphire district since July 2018, state health official said here on Thursday.

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The district administration Kiphire has convened a meeting today in the conference hall of deputy commissioner (DC) Kiphire to take stock of the outbreak of the measles-related disease.

At the meeting, the deputy chief medical officer (DCMO) Kiphire, Dr. Tinurenla Anichari, disclosed that around 40 children have been admitted to the district hospital Kiphire (DHK) for measles-related disease and three children have died due to the disease since July 2018.

DCMO, however, said that department was yet to receive laboratory test confirmation whether it was measles or other foreign diseases. Rashes with high fever were said to be the symptoms in most of the sick children.

Health officials said that many children were brought to the hospital during the last hours and doctors were helpless. She said that more patients could be there in the district, but remained unreported to the hospital.

Senior medical officer DHK, Dr. Tiakhala, pointed out that 80% out of the admitted children have not received any vaccination since birth owing to ignorance or refusal. Doctors said that measles was a preventable disease, but due to none vaccination, some have lost their lives.

SDO(C) and ADC in-charge Kiphire, Reny Wilfred, said that medical staffs, social welfare department, and the education department should work together to disseminate proper information about vaccination.

He said that early treatment was the best way to prevent further health complication among children. SDO(C) also appealed to the ward chairmen to sensitize their own public in their respective wards about the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination that would commence October 3, 2018, onwards. Doctors and representatives from WHO, UNICEF and UNDP also shared their views about the vaccination. They said that only way to prevent Measles-Rubella was to get a vaccination.

Town ward chairman of Kiphire has appealed the residents to disseminate the information in the churches. The meeting also discussed the upcoming Measles-Rubella Vaccination campaign.

Source: The Nagaland Post