Measles notifications are on the rise again in DRC. This recent increase in cases in the country – more than 13,000 cases and close to 200 deaths notified between january 1st and mid-March – worries MSF teams deployed in the most affected areas.

Between 2018 and 2020, the largest outbreak ever recorded in the country had affected close to 460,000 children, and killed nearly 8,000. Three-quarters of them were under five. Emergency and supplementary vaccination campaigns had made it possible to reduce the number of cases, without however cutting the chain of transmission. In August 2020, the Minister of Health had declared the end of the epidemic.

Unfortunately, several provinces once again recorded an increase in measles cases by the end of 2020, and MSF immediately sent mobile teams to stem the progression and save as many lives as possible. In January, MSF deployed teams to deal with a measles outbreak in the Bogose-Nubea health zone, in South Ubangi. In a few weeks, nearly 5,000 sick children had been taken care of, and 70,000 had been vaccinated. The team then traveled to the neighboring province of Nord-Ubangi, where the Bosobolo health zone was also in critical measles condition.

Since arriving in Bosobolo in mid-February, MSF has supported patient care in eight health centers as well as at the general hospital, to which complicated cases are referred. MSF also aims to vaccinate 66,000 children in this isolated health zone, targeting the most difficult to access areas as a priority.

Since early 2021, MSF teams have been deployed in North Ubangi, South Ubangi, Bas-Uélé and Maniema. But we sometimes feel very lonely to support patients and local health teams. Given the current spike in cases, it is imperative to increase the overall emergency response.