Description of the situation
08 March 2001
Disease Outbreak Reported
See previous reports: 28 February ; 20 February.
Chad: As of 4 March, WHO has reported 2317 cases and 267 deaths since the outbreak began in the last months of 2000. The Ministry of Health has responded by strengthening surveillance, providing public information and carrying out mass vaccinations in the affected areas. In support of the local health authorities, Médecins sans Frontières (MSF Belgium) is implementing mass vaccinations and strengthening case management in the préfectures of Moyen Chari and Mayo Kebbi.
Ethiopia: As of 2 March, a total of 1348 cases and 108 deaths have been reported from 40 districts spread across the country, involving 8 out of the 11 regions in Ethiopia. Most of those affected are below 30 years. The Ethiopian Ministry of Health's plan of action to control the epidemic includes strengthening surveillance activities, carrying out mass vaccinations in districts that have exceeded the epidemic threshold and health education activities. The Ministry is also coordinating activities with partners in country, including UNICEF, MSF (Belgium, France and Netherlands) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC). International support to the Ethiopian authorities has included the implementation of mass vaccinations, strengthening case management and support to surveillance activities. IFRC has launched an appeal for funds to vaccinate at least 1.5 million people.