MEASLES HITS MULTIPLE MADAGASCAR TOWNS

Antananarivo, Feb. 7: Madagascar is witnessing its worst measles outbreak in decades. Over 300 deaths were reported — mostly children, after 50,000 people caught the disease since October 2018

Due its relative rarity in the developed world, measles is sometimes incorrectly diagnosed as a mild virus with limited impact. But it can take hold rapidly and cause encephalitis, deafness and in extreme cases, death, especially when a patient is malnourished or has a weakened immune system.

In Madagascar, the outbreak has hit every region of the country and all major towns and cities.