Madhya Pradesh: 16 cases of Measles in Indore; 1 child died

Indore has reported 16 cases of Measles in a week, out of which an 11-year-old child died. One of these cases is also of rubella. The shocking thing is that 14 children, including the one who died, had not got the Measles vaccine. The two children who got the vaccine were also given a single dose. Apart from this, samples of 10 other children have also been sent to Bhopal for testing. It is important that the cases of Measles being found continuously in the city have raised questions on the vaccination campaign. Collector Dr. Ilaiah Raja T took a meeting regarding this on Thursday and gave instructions for vaccination and public awareness campaign in the district.

In fact, due to corona infection in 2020-21, the Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign could not run properly. Due to this, special emphasis was laid on this in 2022. In December 2022, Additional Chief Secretary Mohd. Suleman had formed the State Task Force Committee regarding this. In a big meeting held in Bhopal, it was decided to run the vaccination campaign till December 2023 to free the state from Measles-Rubella.

In this, children of the age group of 9 months to 5 years have to be given this vaccine. In this campaign, the responsibility of the officers of Health, Women and Child Development, Education, Panchayat and Rural Development, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department was mainly fixed.

Here, in Indore, in the second month of this year itself, 16 children were found to have Measles. These children belong to Khajrana, Samrat Nagar, Chandan Nagar area. The condition of all of them is fine and they are at home while samples of 10 children have been sent to Bhopal whose reports have not come yet.

First case of death from Measles

The child who died had not received both the measles vaccines. He had encephalitis (brain fever) and was admitted to CHL Hospital. Measles rash was seen behind his ear during treatment. Meanwhile, his health deteriorated and he died. Actually encephalitis disease is caused due to inflammatory infection in the brain.

This infection can be caused by bacteria or viral. In some cases, meningitis can be caused by a problem with the body’s ability to fight disease. The lack of vaccination of the said child is also a special reason for death.

Many areas left out of vaccination

Immunization Officer Dr. Tarun Gupta told that the child who died had tremors during fever in childhood. Vaccination campaign will be conducted in the areas where Measles affected children have been found. Along with this, vitamin tablets will be distributed. On the other hand, Women and Child Development Officer Ramniwas Budhauliya told that there are 750 Anganwadis in Indore. Every Tuesday and Thursday vaccination is done in Anganwadi centers and schools.

An Anganwadi covers a population of 2,000. The population of the city is more than 30 lakhs. In such a situation, many areas are out of the purview of Anganwadi. It is possible that many areas are left out in this. At present, the complete details of the children in whom Measles has been found are being ascertained. Apart from Anganwadis, monitoring of vaccination is done by ANM, LHV, Supervisor. Along with this, its information is also uploaded on the portal of the Health Department.

Vaccination and public awareness campaign will be run

On the other hand, on Thursday, Collector Dr. Ilaiah Raja T. took a meeting regarding this. He informed that vaccination and public awareness campaign will be launched to get rid of measles and rubella. Active participation of every section of the society, every religion, every caste, people’s representatives, voluntary organizations will be ensured in this campaign. The Collector has urged all the citizens to get their children vaccinated to avoid this disease. This is a better means of prevention from this disease. There is a possibility of spread of this disease in the present season. He instructed that a team should be formed to visit the affected areas. Constantly make people aware about prevention of disease. Vaccinate the underprivileged children. In the meeting, City Qazi Dr. Ishrat Ali urged that vaccination must be done. It doesn’t have any side effects.

Under Measles and Rubella free India campaign, drop out children will be vaccinated from 19 to 24 December. It was told that the first dose is given at 9 months and the second dose from 16 months. This vaccine can be given even till the age of 5 years. At present there is 80% vaccination of Measles and Rubella in the district. According to the criteria, if the coverage of the vaccine is 95 percent, then it means that the disease is going towards eradication. If children are not given this vaccine, then many serious diseases including pneumonia, red rash, diarrhea, encephalitis can occur. If pregnant women get this disease, then the child may have congenital rubella syndrome, if a child has not received the first and second dose of MR, then both vaccines can be applied till the age of 5 years.