YEMEN MONITOR / NEWSROOM:
Health authorities in areas under the control of the Yemeni government recorded a widespread outbreak of the measles virus during January, with more than 1,200 infections and 8 deaths reported, according to the Health Office in Taiz.
Taysir al-Samie, the media official for the Taiz Health Office, noted that Taiz alone accounted for 144 infections and 3 deaths. He emphasized that the outbreak is not confined to Taiz but has spread to various other regions, sparking fears of a continued surge in cases.
Al-Samie further highlighted that the situation in Houthi-controlled areas is significantly worse, with infection and death rates suspected to be much higher. He accused the militia of suppressing official data, a move that exacerbates the severity of the health crisis.
Health officials identified the primary driver of the outbreak as a decline in immunization rates. This trend is attributed to:
- Failure to receive vaccine doses.
- Systematic rumors and incitement against certain vaccines, which has allowed the virus to spread rapidly, particularly among children.
The Ministry of Health warned that the epidemic will continue to claim lives unless immediate action is taken. They have called on all residents to ensure that both children and adults are vaccinated to safeguard the community against this preventable but deadly disease.
