Measles Outbreak Raises Concerns in Morocco
During a press conference organized by the National Observatory for Children’s Rights, Mohamed El Youbi, director of epidemiology and disease control at the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, expressed deep concern over the rapid spread of measles, known locally as « Bouhamron. »
El Youbi reported a significant rise in infections, affecting people of all ages, with some cases resulting in death. The most affected regions include Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma, followed by Fès-Meknès, as well as Rabat-Salé-Kénitra. A lower but still notable number of cases have been recorded in Casablanca-Settat and some provinces of Marrakech-Safi.
Contrary to popular belief, measles is not limited to children. Cases have been recorded in infants under nine months old, as well as children aged 9 to 17 months. Additionally, adults between 18 and 36 years old have also been infected.
Regarding fatalities, 42% of deaths occurred among children under five years old, while 24% were recorded among individuals over 37 years old. Deaths were also observed in people aged 18 to 36 years and children between 5 and 11 years old.
El Youbi emphasized that the vast majority of deaths occurred among unvaccinated individuals, while only a very small percentage of fatalities involved vaccinated people. This highlights the fact that these deaths could have been prevented through immunization.
These figures underscore the need to strengthen vaccination campaigns and raise awareness about the severity of measles and the importance of prevention, especially in areas experiencing a surge in cases.
