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Liberia: Measles Outbreak - Apr 2022

Estado
Pasado
Países
Liberia
Tipos de desastres
Epidemia

On Thursday 21 April 2022, Liberia Health Ministry declared a measles outbreak affecting 14 of the 15 counties in the country. According to the Liberian Government, the outbreak is a result of low immunization rates, due to disruption of immunization activities for COVID-19 and people’s misconception on immunization. According to the Liberian Ministry of Health (MoH), the case threshold for measles outbreak corresponds to three to five cases reported in a single location in seven days. Per the National Public Health Institute’s weekly update on Liberia Public Health Surveillance & Response System, covering the period 4-10 April 2022 (Report week 14) Montserrado County only accounted for 135 cases and 03 deaths. Moreover, two County Health Teams, Nimba and Grand Bassa reported on 22 April respectively 230 and 91 cases. Total cumulative cases from these counties accounted for 456 cases including, 189 probable and 236 suspected. (IFRC, 10 May 2022)

In response to the ongoing measles outbreak, a total 103,038 children have been vaccinated between the ages of 9-35 months with measles containing vaccines (MCV) across fourteen counties excluding Margibi during phase one of the response intervention. Also, on May 31, 2022, the country received 381,400 doses of MCV in preparation of phase two slated for June 16-22, 2022 in all counties. (Government of Liberia, 09 June 2022)

As of 20 July 2022, 5,923 suspected cases, including 5,528 confirmed and 71 deaths (CFR: 1%), were reported from 61 health districts in 15 counties. Of the confirmed cases, 6.7% (369 cases) were laboratory confirmed, 9.1% (503 cases) were clinically confirmed, and 84.0% (4,657 cases) by epidemiological link. The median age of the affected population is 6 years (range: 1 month-67 years). (IFRC, 30 August 2022)