Measles Vaccination Campaign Launched in Sarlahi After 23 Children Test Positive

Sarlahi. Following the detection of measles infection in twenty-three children, a vaccination campaign has been initiated in Malangwa, Sarlahi. The measles-rubella vaccine is being administered to children aged six months to 15 years in Malangwa Municipality-3, where the infection was found, and the adjoining wards 2, 4, 8, 9, and 10.

According to Dr. Nawalkishor Jha, Chief of the District Health Office, approximately eight thousand children in six wards, including the measles-affected Malangwa Municipality-3 and its bordering wards, are scheduled to receive the vaccine. On Poush 24, a five-year-old boy in the Muslim Tole of Malangwa Municipality-3 showed symptoms similar to measles, and samples were sent to Teku, Kathmandu, for lab testing. The lab test confirmed measles infection in him. Subsequently, upon testing other children who came into contact with the infected boy, infections were found in 23 others, Dr. Jha stated.

The Municipal Health Branch reported that the 23 confirmed measles-infected children are in the age group of six months to 11 years. Their current health condition is stable, informed Bishnukanta Sah, Chief of the Municipal Health Branch. Following this, a special vaccination campaign was launched in the affected areas under the directive of the Family Welfare Division, Teku, and the decision of the National Immunization Coordination Committee.

The National Immunization Coordination Committee, the Madhesh Province Ministry, and the Municipality are closely coordinating, said Health Office Chief Dr. Jha. In the affected areas, vaccination and surveillance campaigns are being conducted simultaneously. Information and door-to-door outreach have been used to advise maintaining physical distance, mandatory use of masks, and immediate contact with the health office if symptoms similar to measles appear.

In this municipality, symptoms similar to measles infection were observed in one person two years ago. However, at that time, the patient recovered after treatment based on symptoms without testing, according to Dr. Jha. He mentioned that no measles cases had been reported since then. This sudden appearance of measles infection this time has posed a risk of a health epidemic, he noted.

The special vaccination program in the affected areas has been jointly launched by bodies including the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the Madhesh Province Directorate of Public Health, the Health Office, and Malangwa Municipality.

The Sarlahi Health Office has stated that the measles-rubella vaccine will be administered to the targeted eight thousand children by Magh 16. Health worker teams have started administering vaccines at schools and madrasas. As of Tuesday, 3,545 children have been vaccinated, informed Municipal Health Branch Chief Sah.

Parents have been urged through notices to ensure that children who have already received the routine measles-rubella vaccine also participate in this special vaccination program, said Branch Chief Sah. The Ministry of Health and Population has taken interest following the reappearance of measles, which was previously declared eliminated in Nepal. According to doctors, measles, considered highly contagious, spreads easily from one person to another.

Doctors state that symptoms of measles in children initially include high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, watery eyes, followed by rashes on the face and various parts of the body three to five days later. Health workers say that one infected person can transmit measles to 12 to 18 others. This respiratory disease can spread easily through sneezing, coughing, or when an infected person covers their nose and mouth and does not wash their hands.

Statistics show that while measles infection is more common in children, it can infect people of any age. To prevent measles, children are typically vaccinated twice, at nine months and 15 months. Doctors state that unvaccinated children are at a higher risk of contracting the disease.