Somalia: Measles outbreak update

The Africa CDC’s Weekly Event-Based Surveillance Report, dated 28 April 2024, indicates that the Ministry of Health (MoH) has reported 336 new measles cases (9 confirmed and 327 suspected) and three new deaths (Case Fatality Rate: 0.9%) across six states in Somalia. This represents a 12% increase in new cases since the last report. The majority, 54%, of these cases were reported in four regions: Banadir with 59 cases, Bari with 46, Gedo with 38, and Lower Shebelle with 40. Notably, 70% of the reported cases were children under five years old. In total, there have been 5,226 cases (250 confirmed and 4,976 suspected) and 13 deaths (Case Fatality Rate: 0.2%) reported from all seven states in Somalia this year, marking a continued outbreak that began in March 2023. Previously, in 2021, the national measles vaccination coverage for children under five years old in Somalia was reported at 79%.