Nine more confirmed measles cases

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, March 16, 2014 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

THE outbreak of measles in Port Moresby took an ugly twist last week as not only nine more cases were confirmed, but also among those- two were adults at 24 and 37 years of age.

With the unexpected adult infections, health authorities have yet to confirm a rise in the previous stated age group of 6 months to 20 year, to years above.

Instead they have reaffirmed their appeal till further notice, for those within the same stated age groups to be vaccinated.

Total number of confirmed cases has reached 19 so far- with vaccination in all urban clinics, schools, and mobile teams still continuing.

More than 30,000 were immunized by last Sunday and the figures are expected to increase as the vaccinated campaign continues.

With the infection still spreading, health authorities appealing to all resident, that even though children or young adult have had the two recommended dose during routine immunisation visits- the vaccination was still needed to boost what the Director for Public Health in NCD, Dr Niko Wuatai said was an immune system that could be waned of any traces of the two early doses.

“It is important that residents understand that over 50 per cent of the already confirmed cases had already received their two doses during infancy stages.”

“Therefore this only proves that in this situation- it is an outbreak, which even those early vaccinations cannot fully protect against measles because of the space in time when they were last administered.”

He reiterated that the major concern was with the younger children, as they were at more risk to serious risks to the complications associated with the infection.

When asked about the lifting of the vaccination campaign’s target age groups- he said that they would reassess the range once he meets with the technical teams involved in the exercise.