Chad has closed several schools and restricted movement in the Bologo district to curb the spread of a measles outbreak that has rapidly intensified over the past two weeks.
Health authorities attribute the surge in cases to vaccine hesitancy, a longstanding challenge in the country.
Government officials ordered thousands of children and teachers to stay home for at least a week, while religious centers, including churches and mosques, have also been shut down to prevent further infections.
According to Oumar Mahamat Traore, the government-appointed chief health officer in Bologo, at least 50 cases of measles have been confirmed recently, with all seven district hospitals currently treating infected children.
Some patients are in critical condition, though no fatalities have been reported so far.
Traore urged parents to seek immediate medical attention for children showing symptoms such as fever, runny nose, red and watery eyes, skin rashes, and white spots inside the mouth.
However, he acknowledged that tracking the outbreak is difficult, as more than 80 percent of the local population relies on traditional medicine and only visit hospitals in severe cases.
To combat misinformation, the government has deployed health workers to Bologo and nearby communities to dispel myths that measles is a form of divine punishment requiring traditional rituals for healing. Officials emphasize that the disease is preventable through vaccination and that medical treatment is available.
Measles remains a major health threat in Chad, where vaccination rates are low. The United Nations reports that the disease is a leading Bause of child mortality in the country.
