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CERF allocates $3.2 million in response to meningitis and measles outbreaks in Chad

Countries
Chad
Sources
OCHA
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In response to the outbreak of meningitis and measles in the south and east of the country, CERF has allocated some $3.2 million for humanitarian response in Chad.

The World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will receive some $1.6 million, some $1.4 million and some $200,000 respectively for emergency rapid response to meningitis and measles outbreaks.

In the recent past, Chad has faced recurrent, annual outbreaks of meningitis and measles with increasingly severity. In 2011, the country is facing yet another meningococcal epidemic in the south and an outbreak of measles in the south and east.

The meningitis outbreak started in January 2011 and has claimed 74 lives countrywide with over 1,200 cases reported. Although meningitis vaccination campaigns are underway in some areas, more resources are needed to complete the ongoing campaigns and start new ones in affected areas.

As of 6 March 2011, the measles outbreak has killed 9 and over 1,500 cases have been reported. The outbreak began just over two months ago, and eight districts have reached the epidemic threshold. Measles vaccination campaigns have begun in two districts, but supplementary funding is needed to complete ongoing campaigns and to re-enforce case management and laboratory analysis.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.