Guwahati: A total of 22 outbreaks overall and nine measles-related fatalities in Mumbai, an official said.
“Reported cases of Measles are increasing. The high-risk area is M-East and a few other parts of Mumbai have reported a high number of cases. A total of 22 outbreaks and nine deaths have been reported,” said BMC Executive Health Officer.
Earlier on Wednesday, according to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), as many as 12 deaths have been reported this year with an 8-month-passing old’s on Wednesday being the most recent terrible development in this regard.
The stats for 2020 showed 25 cases while nine cases were reported in 2021.
BMC also urged the general public to vaccinate their children amid the rise in measles cases in the city.
“In view of the Measles outbreak in Mumbai, all the citizens are appealed to vaccinate their children between 9 months to 5 years of age with Measles containing vaccine,” read an official statement.
Three high-level multidisciplinary three-person teams were sent earlier on November 23 to Malappuram (Kerala), Ranchi (Jharkhand), and Ahmedabad, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed.
The teams will facilitate the operationalization of necessary control and containment measures against measles while assisting the State Health Authorities in implementing public health initiatives.
As per the press statement, the Central team to Ranchi comprises experts drawn from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), New Delhi, and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital (RMLH), New Delhi. While, the Central team to Ahmedabad will comprise experts from PHO, Mumbai, Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital (KSCH), New Delhi, and the Regional Office of Health and Family Welfare (RoHFW), Ahmedabad. Also, the Central team to Malappuram will consist of experts from RoHFW, Thiruvananthapuram, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry, and Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC), New Delhi.
The teams will also do field trips to look into the outbreak and help the state health departments with protocols, management guidelines, and public health measures to deal with the growing number of cases of measles being reported in the three cities.
The teams will also coordinate with the States to ensure active case search in the area and with VRDLs for testing of the identified cases, the statement added.