On January 2, 2023, a measles outbreak was confirmed in Nepalgunj, a city in the Banke district of Nepal. This is following a cluster of cases in the area in which individuals had symptoms of fever and rash. Nepal suffers from yearly measles outbreaks because citizens aren’t sufficiently protected against the disease however, the magnitude and extent of this outbreak are high compared to previous years.
Nepal is home to a highly mobile population with frequent cross-border travel and low population immunity in infected districts. Health officials in Nepal are currently putting response efforts in place to combat this virus. Since November 24th, measles cases have been on the rise in Nepal; 690 cases have been reported during the initial period. For a long time, the he Nepalese government has ignored this public health crisis; their efforts to combat this virus only came after the virus has spread throughout the west of Nepal.
Measles is a highly contagious disease, and transmission is primarily person-to-person. Once it leaves its host, the virus remains active for two hours, airborne or on surfaces. Not only is measles a deadly virus in itself, but it can also cause complications including blindness, pneumonia, and encephalitis to those with underlying conditions. There is currently an effective vaccine that is available to immunize the public, but approximately 95% population-wide immunization is required to effectively stop the spread of this virus. Due to the low measles immunization rates in Nepal, this virus will likely continue to spread.
The World Health Organization, the Ministry of Health, and non-governmental organizations have put measures in place to aid Nepal during this health crisis,, including “[t]he mobilization of health personnel including health care workers (HCW), local NGOs, and technical staff from WHO, UNICEF, the District Public Health Office, and the health unit of Nepalgunj SMC to implement response measures.” The WHO states that to prevent future outbreaks, individuals must get vaccinated and recognize the signs and symptoms of measles to protect themselves and others.
By Justin Goldberg