Kenya measles outbreak: Low vaccination coverage highlights a major public health gap
Kenya health authorities report an update on the ongoing measles outbreak in the country.
The outbreak that started in December 2023 has risen to 1,536 total cases through June 11. This includes 11 deaths.
In all of 2023, Kenya reported 1,551 total measles cases and 24 deaths.
The highest number of cases is in the under-five year age group, with 563 cases, followed by the 15 years and older age group, with 386 cases; the 5-9 years age group, with 319 cases; and the 10-14 years age group with 242 cases.
This outbreak has been reported across (21.3%), 10 of the 47 counties in Kenya, with nine flood-affected counties actively reporting cases. Garissa county has reported 48.2% of all reported cases (740 cases) mostly in Dadaab sub-county (634 cases).
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Low vaccination coverage, with only a small percentage having received two doses and a substantial proportion unvaccinated, highlights a major public health gap- Only 6.0% of measles cases reported receiving two doses of the measles-containing vaccine, 14.0% received one dose, 34.0% were reported unvaccinated, and 46.0% had unknown vaccination status.
Immediate action to increase vaccination coverage is critical to controlling the outbreak.
Across Africa in 2024, more than 140,000 total measles cases have been reported in 26 African Union Member States, including 1,820 deaths through June 9.