In the shadow of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the largest measles epidemic in the world is still ongoing in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since January 2019, more than 6,600 people – mostly children under 5 – died from the disease. Despite extra immunization campaigns set up by the authorities at the end of 2019, the epidemic is not fading away as fast as it should, and the number of measles cases is increasing in some areas. Since January 2020, more than 50.000 cases have been officially recorded in DRC, with over 600 deaths.

In DRC’s northern province of Mongala, the Boso Manzi health zone is among those hard-hit by the ongoing measles epidemic. Hundreds of measles cases have been notified here early 2020. This prompted MSF to send an emergency team in February to start a new vaccination campaign and support local health staff to provide patient care. MSF has treated more than 1,000 patients at Boso Manzi hospital during its 6-week emergency response. Beyond the hospital, MSF has vaccinated 44,000 children across the health zone

Overshadowed since its start by the Ebola outbreak, the measles epidemic in DRC and its much-needed response are now at risk of being jeopardized by the new COVID-19 pandemic preventive measures. These measures are having an impact on the overall measles response, including transporting vaccines, assembling dedicated teams and launching vaccination campaigns.

For MSF, health emergencies do not stop during COVID-19 time, and the battle against major killers – measles, malaria, malnutrition… – must not be left aside. As we adapt our approach to the COVID-19 pandemic and support the response to it, it is important to remember that a one-track focus on COVID-19 will sow the seeds of other major health crises. Reducing vaccinations, nutrition support or malaria prevention in the face of a public health crisis will lead to other crises, making the situation even worse.

From Haut-Uélé to Kongo Central, from North Ubangi to South Kivu, MSF teams have already been deployed in a dozen provinces across DRC in 2020; this year they have already vaccinated more than 260,000 children against measles, while caring for more than 17,500 that already had the disease. Last year, MSF vaccinated 816,000 children against measles and cared for more than 50,000 patients with the disease.