Holes in the vaccination drive

The measles outbreak in ‘fully-immunised’ Banke indicates big lapses in the immunisation campaign.

Banke district in Lumbini province was declared fully immunised last March. But a few days ago, measles, a disease that could have been warded off with two doses of the MMR vaccine, claimed the life of a 31-month-old toddler in Nepalgunj sub-metropolis. According to the World Health Organisation, the measles vaccine is highly effective. One dose gives at least 85 percent immunity; two doses confer almost 100 percent protection. But in the absence of regular immunisation, around 80 cases have been reported in Nepalgunj. But this could be only scratching the surface, with potentially hundreds of children already in the grips of this highly contagious disease. Early measles symptoms include high fever, runny nose, bloodshot eyes and tiny white spots inside the mouth. Some children may suffer from severe complications, even leading to death.