The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the DRC is the second deadliest epidemic in history. While battling with the fatal disease, health officials have announced another disease epidemic. Yes, measles is killing people more rapidly than Ebola. Children are the primary target of measles, which is a vaccine-preventable disease. Since January the virus has killed more than 2500 people across the DRC. As per health officials, about 145,000 measles cases have been diagnosed in the region. Even more, it has resulted in the death of around 2,000 children. Whereas, in the case of Ebola as much as about 1,500 people have died since last August.
MSF, a non-profit medical organization, has noted the surprising figures and has called for a massive fund-raising. The MSF also referred to as a medical NGO – doctors without borders. According to the agency, the outbreak has increased along with some new cases which have emerged in several areas. MSF notes the Health Cluster response plan to fight against measles needs $8.9 billion. But it has collected only $2.5 million. On the other hand, the Ebola outbreak in the east of the nation has obtained several millions of dollars in funding. The medical NGO said a massive financial backup is essential to combat ongoing measles epidemic in the DRC that could get even harder.
Although Measles is a highly infectious disease, and children are mainly vulnerable to the virus. Fever, runny nose, and dry cough are some of the primary symptoms of the contagious disease. Whereas, in extreme cases, it might result in brain swelling, severe lung infections, blindness, and diarrhea. According to the WHO, in 2018, measles has contracted as much as 350,000 due to some anti-vaxxer communities in various regions. The DRC has declared a measles outbreak previously in June. Thus MSF is urging response organizations and other people for mobilization of funds. In order to carb the illness, the NGO has vaccinated more than 474,860 children having age from 6 months to five years. Even more, since January 2019, it has offered treatment to more than 27,000 measles-contracted people.
