Measles outbreak in Mumbai: Docs to report suspicious rashes, fever to BMC

The civic body is also looking at raising awareness by targeting families

Faced with eight suspected measles outbreaks this year despite undertaking a massive vaccination programme in late 2018, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided that post-July, health officials will thoroughly investigate all cases of fever and rash. The civic body is also contemplating using different strategies to ensure compliance in areas that reported high refusal rates during the vaccination drive.

The civic body is facing a challenge inoculating children because of anti-vaxxer groups (HT Photo)

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an official from the health department said that from July onwards, every fever and rash case will be thoroughly investigated to tackle measles outbreaks. “We have decided to intensify the surveillance. We will ask doctors to report every fever and rash case to the BMC,” said the official. At present, investigations are launched only when an outbreak – five or more cases – are reported from an area. The BMC is also looking at raising awareness by targeting families since its previous school-based campaign has not been effective in some parts of the city. Dr Padmaja Keskar, the BMC’s executive health officer, said parents must realise the importance of vaccinating their children against these preventable diseases. “Wherever the vaccination rates are high, the cases are low,” she said.

Measles is a highly-infectious viral disease that is common among children under the age of five. Last year 32 confirmed measles and rubella outbreaks were reported in Mumbai. The BMC’s data shows that in 2017, six deaths were caused by suspected measles and two in 2018. “These cases were clinically diagnosed as measles,” said Dr Keskar.