Measles claim 18 lives in Bayelsa

By Samuel Oyadongha
Yenagoa—NO fewer than 18 persons have reportedly died of ailments suspected to have been caused by measles outbreak in the riverine settlement of Owukoro,  Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa State.
Most of the victims, according to reports, were children and young people.

Sources told Vanguard that the outbreak of the epidemic might be connected with resistance of the locals to immunisation due to  religious beliefs.

It was gathered that the people of Owukoro and other Southern Ijaw communities are members of a local church that forbids immunisation.

Most government health centres in the hinterlands of the state are in deplorable conditions and lacking in medical personnel.

The only government health centre in the area, it was learnt, could not cope with the influx of patients.