THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
MEASLES
TALKING POINTS
1. Introduction
Globally Measles is the leading cause
of death among vaccine preventable 3. Signs and symptoms of
childhood diseases.
In Uganda, Measles is one of the leading
causes of death among children under
five and can be prevented through
immunisation.
During 2016 and part of 2017 a total of
2412 suspected cases were reported
country wide. Out of these 518 (21%) were
clinically and laboratory confirmed. From
January to December 2017, 670 and 335
clinically and laboratory confirmed cases
of Measles were detected from Kampala
and Wakiso districts respectively.
The WHO recommends the following
strategies for achieving and maintaining
Measles elimination:
w Strengthening routine
immunisation, and in this area
Uganda provides one Measles
dose at 9 months of age
w Providing an opportunity for
Measles immunisation through
Supplemental Immunisation
Activities (SIAs)
w Conducting case based Measles
surveillance to document progress
in eliminating the disease
w Proving standard case
management to Measles
cases according to set standards
2. What is Measles?
• Measles is an airborne disease,
spread to susceptible persons by
respiratory droplets when an infected
person coughs or sneezes or by direct
contact with nasal or throat secretions
of an infected person. Humans are
the primary hosts and there are
no known non-human
Measles include:
w Fever
w Generalised skin rash
w Cough
w Running nose
w Red eyes
w Red lips and sore mouth
4. Complications from Measles
infection include:
w Pneumonia and Diarrhoea which
can lead to death
w Lifelong disability including
blindness, brain damage and
deafness
w Malnutrition and Vitamin A
deficiency
5. Who is most affected by
Measles?
Measles affects all ages but it is
more frequent and severe in children
under 5 years of age who are not
immunised. The population at
risk of Measles infection includes:
w Unimmunised children
w Pregnant women previously not
immunised with Measles vaccine
during childhood
w Immune suppressed individuals
w Communities living in
overcrowded settlements
w Communities that cannot easily
access immunisation services
6. Prevention of Measles
disease
w Immunisation is the best way to
prevent Measles. All children
should be immunised against
reservoirs Measles at 9 months during
routine immunisation.
w During Supplemental
Immunization Activities (SIAs)
children aged 6 months to 5 years
will receive a dose of the Measles
vaccine by injection irrespective
of previous immunisation status
7. Justification for Measles
immunisation
w Regular risk analysis shows
Uganda is at risk of Measles
outbreaks
w Uganda is already experiencing
Measles outbreaks in some
districts
w Evidence shows that many
children are not yet protected
against Measles through routine
immunisation
w Measles is a highly infectious
disease and more severe in
unimmunised children
POINTS TO NOTE
• A dose of Measles vaccine is
administered by injection on the
left upper arm by qualified health
workers.
• The Measles vaccine is SAFE,
EFFECTIVE and FREE. It is
approved by Ministry of Health,
WHO and UNICEF
• Side effects are usually mild
and include: a low fever and a
generalised skin rash
• We call upon all stakeholders,
right from the household to the
national level, to ensure that all
eligible children are immunised
against Measles at 9 months of
age during routine immunisation.