Opuwo: The Ministry of Health and Social Services has launched a measles vaccination campaign in the Kunene Region following a declared outbreak in the Opuwo district. The campaign is scheduled from September 17 to October 3 and aims to vaccinate over 28,000 children aged six to 15 years in the district.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the health ministry released an urgent public notice on Monday, announcing the measles outbreak in the Opuwo District. The notice highlighted that by September 12, there were 20 reported suspected cases, with 10 confirmed positive for measles. National guidelines define a measles outbreak when two out of five cases are laboratory confirmed.

The health ministry is urging residents in Opuwo and nearby areas to ensure eligible children receive vaccinations, as measles predominantly impacts children and is highly transmissible. The public is advised to watch for early symptoms, including fever, runny nose, red and watery eyes, and small white spots inside the cheeks.

The Health Ministry has cautioned that measles can lead to death due to complications like blindness, brain damage, severe diarrhoea, dehydration, ear infections, breathing issues, and pneumonia. The ministry reiterated that measles is a vaccine-preventable disease and stressed the critical role of early vaccinations in safeguarding children against various illnesses.