The Ministry of Health and Sanitation has declared a measles outbreak in Kambia District.

According to a press release by the Ministry, there have been a total of 3 confirmed cases from a cluster of suspected cases in Bamoi Luma in the district. The MOHS stated that they are working in partnership with the World Health Organization and has dispatched Rapid Response Team to conduct detailed investigation of the outbreak and plan for a response.

A measles outbreak is defined as 3 or more laboratory confirmed cases in a community or district within a span of one month. On the 19th October 2021, the Kambia District Health Management Team [DHMT] was notified by the Bamoi Luma community Health Center [CHC] of three suspected cases of measles in children aged 3,5, and 6, residents of Fullah Town and Guinea Park communities within the Bamoi Luma Community Health Centre catchment area.

The district surveillance unit conducted preliminary investigations including active case search within the communities leading to the identification and detection of twelve [ 12] additional suspected cases. Blood samples were collected from seven of the suspected cases for confirmation at the Central Public Health Reference Laboratory [CPHRL] in Freetown on 21st October, 2021. Three of the samples tested positive for measles.

Measles is a serious but vaccine-preventable disease that is caused by a virus. When children are unvaccinated, the virus can spread quickly and cause severe illness, disability and deaths.