Why measles cases spiked in Tanzania in the past year

Dar es Salaam. Service and supply chain disruptions, resource diversion to response efforts, and controversies about Covid-19 vaccines caused major declines in routine coverage in the country, leaving populations vulnerable to preventable diseases like measles.

According to the government from July 2022 - February 2023 the country faced a sporadic measles outbreak affecting several districts and leaving thousands of children infected.

Ministry of Health programme officer Ms Lotalis Gadau said from June 2022 to May 3, 2023 there were at least 3,923 confirmed cases.

She said the Covid-19 pandemic caused a major setback in immunisation programme performance during 2020-2021.

“Pre-pandemic form 2000-2019 reports showed that the National immunisation programme made steady gains in achieving and sustaining big levels of vaccination coverage above 95 percent,” she said.

“However in 2021, the WHO and UNICEF estimates of national immunisation coverage (WUENIC) showed that Penta3 coverage in Tanzania fell to 81 percent, a level not seen in more than 20 years The increase in missed children and dropout particularly affected measles vaccination coverage,” said Ms Gadau.

She said the health sector will continue to provide vaccination services to children and adolescents to avoid vaccine-preventable diseases.

At the moment there are ten different vaccines in Tanzania against 14 preventable diseases, according to the ministry. Speaking yesterday acting Dar es Salaam’s regional medical officer Dr Milka Mathania said the measles situation remains fluid, and health officials are working around the clock to contain the spread by making sure every child is being vaccinated.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can cause serious complications and even death, especially in young children. It is spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Highly populated places like Dar es Salaam city are more prone to measles outbreaks because the virus can spread quickly in areas with large numbers of people living in close proximity to one another.  “The government has also been urged to invest in public education campaigns to increase awareness about the benefits of immunisation especially through media channels and dispel myths surrounding vaccines,” said Dr Mathania.

Dar mayor Mr Omary Kumbilamoto said has also been working to strengthen routine immunisation services by improving the supply chain, training healthcare workers, and providing resources to health facilities.

This ensures that children receive the recommended vaccinations at the right time.