BURKINA FASO: Measles vaccinations to begin

Photo: Anthony Mitchell/IRIN

Measles vaccination campaign preparation underway in Burkina Faso (file photo)

DAKAR, 16 June 2009 (IRIN) - Burkina Faso’s Health Ministry has announced a measles vaccination campaign targeting 3.6 million children starting 17 June for five days in high-risk districts, including the densely-populated capital of Ouagadougou.

Only two of 13 regions nationwide are not considered at-risk by the Health Ministry.

Spread through coughing or sneezing, the highly infectious disease is the leading killer of young children globally, especially those who are malnourished, according to World Health Organization (WHO).

The number of measles infections in Burkina Faso has doubled in the past two months to more than 42,000 reported cases this year, the largest outbreak the country has had in more than 10 years. 

As of 15 June since the beginning of the latest outbreak earlier this year, there have been more than 280 reported measles deaths in Burkina Faso.

Estimated to cost US$2.5 million, the vaccinations target only children under age 15.

pt/aj