LUSAKA, Jul 16 – An outbreak of measles has killed 88 people in Zambia over the last two months, with the capital Lusaka the hardest-hit part of the country, Health Minister Kapembwa Simbao told lawmakers Thursday.
The outbreak is the worst since 2003 and comes as the nation is prepaing a new national vaccination campaign for next week, three years after the last programme to ensure children receive their jabs, the minister said.
"Zambia has reported 4,255 cases and 88 deaths countrywide. Lusaka alone has recorded 3,242 cases, 76 percent of the country\’s cases with 84 deaths," Simbao said.
In Lusaka, local vaccination efforts were disrupted by flooding in parts of the city earlier this year.
Zambia\’s health services generally have suffered from corruption and mismanagement, which has led some donors to suspend aid.
LUSAKA
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