UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency, has vaccinated hundreds of children in response to a suspected measles outbreak in an Ethiopian camp hosting refugees fleeing famine-stricken Somalia, a spokeswoman said on Monday.

More than 118,000 Somalis have taken refuge in camps in Dolo Ado, just a kilometre north of Ethiopia's border with Somalia, with nearly 78,000 of them arriving this year.

UNHCR said there have been 47 cases and three deaths from suspected measles in the Kobe camp, sheltering 25,000 people, over the last week. However, community health workers reported 25 deaths in the camp on Aug. 4 alone, half of which were suspected to be from measles.

"UNHCR fears the outbreak could lead to high mortality and serious illness in an already vulnerable refugee population whose overall health was already fragile," the agency said in a statement.

"An outbreak could also reverse the progress which had been made over the last several weeks to stabilise Somali refugees, many of whom arrived in Ethiopia in extremely poor health."

High rates of acute malnutrition, low vaccination coverage in Somalia and overcrowding in the camps are some of the aggravating factors linked to the measles outbreak, UNHCR said.

It also cited health experts as saying poor hygiene habits were a challenge.

A UNHCR spokeswoman said 300 children between six months and 15 years of age have been vaccinated since last Friday. They are part of a group of refugees being transferred from a transit centre to the newly-opened Hilaweyn camps.

Seven cases of suspected measles were isolated for in-patient care at the transit centre, UNHCR said.

Measles is a viral disease affecting mostly children and can cause complications such as pneumonia, malnutrition, severe dehydration, ear infections and eye infections that can lead to blindness. It is one of the leading causes of death among children, especially in the developing world.



Source: http://www.trust.org/