Reports confirm the outbreak of measles disease in Somaliland settlements which is caused by a virus. Reports say that the disease infected hundreds who have been taken to the hospitals in Somaliland. According to the Ministry of Health Development, 227 measles cases have been officially recorded in major provinces in Somaliland.
The Ministry of Health further said that the number of new measles cases have increased with an alarming rate for the past five months. The statement from the Ministry of Health Development said that the ministry is announcing officially that there is an outbreak of measles disease in Somaliland.
The statement went on to say that it is deadly disease particularly the children. The statement further added that it can have negative impact on the community and the economy of the country. The Director General of the Health Development Ministry, Dr. Ahmed Mohamud Jama said that before announcing officially the outbreak of measles in the country, the ministry investigated 30 people suspected of being infected by the measles disease.
He said that 20 people were diagnosed with measles disease which indicated that the disease was widespread. He said: “The most measles cases have been registered in two provinces namely Marodi Jeh particularly Hargeisa town and Sahil province particularly the port city of Berbera.
However, it is not officially confirmed the number of people who died due to measles infections. He disclosed that there are patients who are in a serious situation and who are in the hospitals in Somaliland.
The number of measles cases so far registered are:-
- Hargeisa—- 160 cases
- Berbera—— 27 cases
- Sheikh—- 5 cases
- Aynabo—- 4 cases
The least infected towns are Baligubale, Erigavo and Gabiley. Speaking of the signs of the disease, the Director General said: “People infected with measles have cold-like symptoms, coughing, runny nose, sore red in the lips and mouth, and a rash of red spots.” Besides the widespread measles outbreak, Somaliland was impacted by the Dengue fever for the past years which claimed the lives of many people. Dengue was a disease that was only spread in Somaliland for the past years which did not exist in the country before.
