Measles outbreak kills more than 1,200 people in Madagascar

Babies groan when a nurse tries to rebadure mothers who have vaccinated their children against a measles epidemic that has killed more than 1,200 people in this island nation where many are desperately poor.

Madagascar is facing the largest measles epidemic in its history, with cases well over 115,000, but resistance to childhood immunization is not driving this rise.

Measles cases are increasing in the United States and elsewhere, partly because of false information that makes some parents hesitate to receive a vaccine. New York City is trying to stop an outbreak by ordering mandatory vaccinations in a Brooklyn neighborhood.

Only 58% of the inhabitants of the main island of Madagascar have been vaccinated against measles, a major factor in the spread of the disease. Since measles is one of the most infectious diseases, vaccination rates must be 90% to 95% or more to prevent epidemics.

The epidemic has mostly killed children under the age of 15 since its appearance in September, according to the World Health Organization.

"The epidemic unfortunately continues to spread," said Dossou Vincent Sodjinou, an epidemiologist at WHO in Madagascar. By mid-March, 117,075 cases had been reported by the Ministry of Health, affecting all regions of the country.

Some cases of resistance to vaccination exist because of the influence of religion or traditional health practitioners, but they are isolated, he said.

Measles, a highly infectious disease transmitted by coughing, sneezing, close contact or infected surfaces, is not the subject of any specific treatment. The symptoms are treated instead.

At the end of last month, WHO launched a third mbad vaccination campaign in Madagascar with the overall goal of reaching 7.2 million children aged 6 months to 9 years.

"But vaccination is not the only response strategy to this epidemic. We still need resources for care, monitoring and social mobilization, "said Sodjinou, epidemiologist of WHO.