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More than 13,000 children aged between nine months and 15 years in areas affected by the disease are being vaccinated, officials said
Two weeks ago, the World Health Organization issued an alarming report that the number of measles cases worldwide has increased by 300% in the first three months of 2019 compared to the same period from last year.
"Although these data are provisional and not yet complete, they indicate a clear trend," said the UN health agency.
Nepal has made great progress in immunization, but measles epidemics in some districts have become a source of concern.
Measles is a contagious disease that can be completely avoided with a two-dose vaccine.
Many officials with whom the post office has been maintaining said outbreaks of measles were reported in Morang, Dang and Kapilvastu districts in April alone.
Sunita Kunwar, the immunization officer in Dang, told the post by telephone that the measles virus had been observed in several children in Ward 4 of the Rural Municipality of Rajpur in the district.
"We launched a vaccination campaign on Monday. It will continue until all the children in the area and the neighboring villages of quarters 3 and 5 are vaccinated, "Kunwar said.
Gyan Bahadur BC, head of the provincial health bureau in Morang, said the disease had been observed in Barangha village, district 7 of Sunbasti municipality. He said 11 cases of measles had been confirmed by laboratory tests in one month, which was enough to declare an outbreak.
Health workers report an outbreak if the number of infections exceeds five in one area.
Phanindra Nath Tiwari, immunization officer in Kapilvastu, also confirmed the measles outbreak in areas 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9 of Krishnanagar Municipality in the district. According to him, 18 cases of measles have been confirmed.
Measles was endemic in Nepal and an average of 90,000 cases were recorded each year from 1994 to 2004. Measles immunization began in the country in 1979 with three districts. The campaign has been expanded nationwide after 10 years.
The government is providing two doses of measles vaccines to children – at the age of nine months and at fifteen months – free of charge at health centers across the country.
Nepal was committed to eliminating measles infection by 2019, but depending on the frequency of cases, the authorities believe that the country may not meet the deadline.
To report measles elimination, the number of cases should be less than five in a million individuals or in any case during the year.
Measles is transmitted by the droplets of the nose, mouth or throat of infected people.
The first symptoms, which usually appear 10 to 12 days after infection, include a high fever, a runny nose, bloodshot eyes and tiny white spots inside the mouth.
A few days later, a rash develops on the face, upper neck, and other parts of the body.
Asked about the epidemic in some districts, Dr. Jhalak Sharma, Chief of the Child Health and Immunization Section of the Family Protection Division of the Department of Health Services, said: "All children aged nine months to 15 be vaccinated with an additional measles vaccine. "
"More than 13,000 children in areas affected by the disease will receive an extra dose of vaccine during the special campaign," said Sharma.
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