The Ethiopian Ministry of Health, which confirmed the outbreak, is working hard to control the measles. Five people have already died, according to a source in the committee set up to fight the disease.
The government is planning a national vaccination campaign to be launched in April to control the outbreak. Six out of nine states have experienced outbreaks, mainly in rural districts where immunization is low.
Officials report 228 confirmed cases this week alone, with Oromia, Amhara, and the populated southern regions reportedly the worst affected.
According to the United Nations, the first case of measles was recorded last December, and the first outbreak occurred at the end of January.
Experts, however, note that between 2000 and 2016, the disease, which mainly affects children, is declining sharply worldwide. They note that from more than 850,000 in 2000, it fell to 132,000 in 2016, mainly due to increased vaccination rates.
