CASES OF MEASLES IN KISUMU EAST COUNTY

Feb 25, 2014 Emmanuel Opiyo Health 0

According to measles cases being diagnosed in our Local Health centers, it is safe to say that there could be a small outbreak of measles in Kisumu East sub-county region covering Kisumu Central and Kisumu East Constituencies.

This is an alert to all mothers and fathers to take considerable measures to ensure there young ones are vaccinated as early as possible and contain the measles spreading virus.

Contact your Community Health Extension worker, Your Doctor or visit your local Health facility to get the latest information on the contagious virus.

Measles also called Rubeola or Morbili once common in North America amongst their children in the 1960s. Infection from measles causes the brain tissue to become inflamed and a later can even cause further complication and brain damage.

Measles is very contagious and is caused by a virus called a Paramyxovirus, transmitted in tiny droplets when an infected person coughs sneezes and breathes. A measles airborne virus characteristic makes it very contagious making it very hard to escape once in close contact with an infected individual.

Symptoms to look out for include coughs, fever, a running nose red eyes and tearing which will appear in the incubation period which is normally in the 1^st two weeks of infection. There may be rashes which may not necessarily be painful neither itchy.

There are measles vaccination being provided by the government for free amongst children of 9 months and 1 year 6 months to 2 years at our local health centers in every Wards of Kisumu County.