Health Minister Giri to visit Nepalgunj to take stock on measles outbreak
Kathmandu: A team led by Minister for Health and Population, Padam Giri, is heading towards Nepalgunj, the city that has recorded outbreak of measles-rubella.
A team comprising Minister Giri is visiting Nepalgunj today to carry out a study about the situation and take initiative against the measles outbreak, said Minister Giri’s Personal Secretary, Laxman Giri.
The team comprises Minister Giri, Secretary at the Health Ministry Dr Roshan Pokharel and other high-level officials at the Ministry.
Measles spread at Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City since December 28 has now spread at Kohalpur Municipality, Khajura Rural Municipality, Narainapur Rural Municipality and Duduwa Rural Municipality as well.
More than 200 children have been infected with measles so far and one died from it in Nepalgunj. Eighteen cases of measles were reported in Khajura, five in Kohalpur, 15 in Narainapur and eight in Duduwa. The Ministry is administrating vaccine against measles to children from six months to 15 years at measles affected areas from January 6.
Although the Ministry had set a target to administer vaccine against measles to 42,978 children, a total of 44,402 children have received vaccine so far, according to the Child Health and Immunization Section of the Ministry.
The government has set a target to eliminate measles from the country by 2023.
