Zimbabwe measles outbreak death toll rises to 685 – health ministry

HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwe’s measles outbreak has up to now claimed 685 lives, the Ministry of Well being mentioned on Saturday, greater than 4 occasions the instances reported nearly a fortnight in the past whilst a nationwide vaccination program continues.

“Zimbabwe had 6,034 confirmed instances, together with 4,266 and 685 deaths,” the ministry mentioned in a posting on Twitter, including 191 new instances and 37 deaths have been reported in a single day on Sept. 1.

Primarily kids aged between six months and 15 years have been succumbing to the illness, particularly these from spiritual sects who don’t imagine in vaccination, the nation’s info minister Monica Mutsvangwa mentioned final month.

In accordance with authorities claims, apostolic sects don’t imagine in vaccination and depend on prayers. The apostolic church leaders haven’t reacted to authorities claims that their beliefs are chargeable for a better unfold of measles.

The federal government is reaching out to religion leaders to garner assist and consciousness, Mutsvangwa mentioned.

Calls to Bishop Andby Makururu of the Johanne Masowe Apostolic Church weren’t instantly answered on Saturday.

(Reporting by Nyasha Chingono; Writing by Promit Mukherjee; Modifying by Mike Harrison)