91 suspected measles cases detected in parts of Mehsana

Gujarat health department officials on Sunday informed that during surveillance carried out in the last month, they have detected a total number of 91 suspected cases of measles in various parts of Mehsana district.

The officials also delved into the reasons for the outbreak and concluded that resistance to vaccination in the region is one of the likely reasons for the huge upsurge in cases.

Vinod Patel, the epidemic officer of Mehsana informed that samples of the suspected cases from Molipur village in Vadnagar taluka and part of Kadi town in the district have been sent to a laboratory in Ahmedabad for further testing and a report of the same is awaited.

Patel added that enhanced surveillance is being carried out after some cases popped up during routine checks. 

The vaccination levels in an affected village remain as low as 60-70% and the health authorities are on their toes to increase awareness about the benefits of vaccinations in preventing the disease.

In Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar informed about the surge in measles cases in several districts and cities of Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Kerala.