2,686 people vaccinated against measles in Hoima
1 March 2024, 8:10 am
By James Muhumuza
The Hoima district health department has so far vaccinated 2,686 people against measles.
The new measles outbreak was confirmed last week in four villages of Runga and Kavava in Kiganja sub-county, and Tonya and Rwentale in Buseruka sub-county, along the shores of Lake Albert with children between the ages of one and five years being the most affected demographic group.
This was after samples taken from the affected individuals tested positive for measles at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI).
As a result, health officials in the district initiated a mass measles vaccination campaign in response to a confirmed outbreak of the disease in several villages along the shores of Lake Albert.
Nazareth Kabagenyi, the Hoima Acting District Health Officer-DHO told our reporter in an interview yesterday morning (Thursday) that so far 2,686 people have been vaccinated against the disease.
They include children aged between one and fifteen years from the affected sub counties.
According to Kabagenyi, the district is running out of the measles vaccines as the cases surge stating that currently the cumulative figures indicate that 321 cases have been recorded.
Fredrick Byenume, the Hoima district Health Inspector says, they have been compelled to place an emergence order at the National Medical Stores-NMS for more vaccines to be availed.