AT LEAST 648 people have died from measles since the disease first broke out in April this year, statistics from the ministry of Health and Child Care show.
As of Thursday this week, the country had recorded 5 843 cases, 1 575 of which were people who had been vaccinated and 3 402 unvaccinated, while the status of 769 was not known.
Of the total recorded cases, 4 212 were treated and discharged after attending health institutions, 983 were still admitted, while 647 cases were in communities. At least 108 new cases were recorded countrywide on Thursday with Manicaland accounting for 38, Mashonaland East 29, Midlands, 21, Matabeleland South 13 and Harare 7.
Most of the measles cases are occurring in the eastern part of the country with Manicaland Province, which has a large concentration of religious sects that do not believe in vaccination, having 2 737.
Mashonaland West Province followed with 807 cases, Mashonaland East was in tow with 689 and Midlands, which had 518 cases. Masvingo Province had 401 cases, Mashonaland Central 272, Harare 153, Chitungwiza 105, Matabeleland North 80 and Matabeleland South 59.
Bulawayo had the lowest number of cases with 22. The government has since stepped up vaccination, working with traditional and religious sect leaders to support the programme. — New Ziana