Deaths arising from outbreak of measles in Adamawa State have risen to 49.
This came to light as government officials gave update on efforts to curtail the disease as the World Health Organisation, (WHO), addressed newsmen in Yola on factual reporting standards.
During the WHO Media Orientation Engagement at the WHO state office in Yola, the Adamawa State Epidemiologist, Kadabiyu Jones, said 49 deaths had been recorded so far and 143 cases of the 818 suspected measles cases confirmed positive.
He said the affected persons were children between 1 and 14 years, most of them not previously vaccinated.
He confirmed the State had deployed surveillance personnel to track the outbreak and that it is working hard to ensure all vulnerable groups are captured within the ongoing reaction vaccination exercise.
DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS recalls Commissioner of Health, Dr Felix Tangwame, confirmed the outbreak last Saturday putting the number of deaths at 42.
The Ministry of Education had followed up on Monday, May 6, with announcement of postponement of resumption of schools to allow vaccination effort meant to check spread of the disease.
Addressing newmen during the WHO Media Engagement organised to update journalists on ideal reporting of emergencies, the WHO Coordinator in Adamawa State, Dr Ahemen Terseer, called for caution.
The State coordinator said the media which is a critical component of public health needs to be factual in all instances.
Ahemen said the media has the power to make or mar any public health campaign, hence the need to deliver accurate, fact-based information that will enhance public health.
