Médecins Sans Frontières MSF (Doctor Without Borders) is calling on the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and its partners to decide immediately to launch follow-up vaccination campaigns in Equateur and Orientale provinces so that the campaigns can begin in early September.
2010 measles epidemic
In 2010, MSF ran a massive immunisation campaign in Fizi health zone aiming to vaccinate 120,000 children against measles in six weeks. © Haavar Karlsen
The DRC has been affected by a measles epidemic since late 2010. More than 106,000 cases have been recorded to date and more than 1,100 persons have died, the majority of them children.
The epidemic has already reached Katanga, East and West Kasai, Maniema and South Kivu provinces, largely because the 2010 supplementary vaccination campaigns planned initially were not carried out.
Epidemic returns
When the authorities declared a measles epidemic last April, certain necessary measures were then taken quickly: children under five years received emergency vaccinations and supplementary campaigns were organised last July.
More than 11 million children have already been vaccinated, including three million under the age of 15, with MSF's assistance.
More vaccination campaigns needed
However, these urgent efforts have not managed to limit the spread of the epidemic. A few weeks ago, it reached Equateur and Orientale provinces, where vaccination coverage is very poor.
"Vaccination campaigns had been planned for September 2011 in Orientale and Equateur provinces, but the decision to carry them out has not yet been confirmed," warns Dr. Northan Hurtado, MSF's vaccination coordinator.
"Measles is a contagious disease and the complications can be life-threatening. There is still time to save lives by vaccinating all children under five who have not yet been vaccinated."
WHO and Unicef mobilised
The two leading partners of DRC's Ministry of Health – the World Health Organisation and Unicef – have mobilised.
Mass immunisation campaigns are important because they raise the level of vaccination coverage and prevent unnecessary deaths. © Haavar Karlsen
The vaccines have arrived in Kinshasa. The decision to launch the campaigns now rests solely with the government, with its financial participation the key issue.
"With the start of the school year, we face an increased risk"
Dr. Laurence Sailly, MSF's medical coordinator in the DRC says, "If the campaign is not conducted in September, it could then be postponed because when the rainy season starts, it will be very difficult to organise the campaign.
"And with the start of the school year, we face an increased risk of infection among children."
MSF believes that the epidemic could spread into Oriental and Equateur provinces and asks the government to ensure that vaccinations will begin in September in order to halt the spread of the disease.