In spite of our efforts to immunise all children at risk there are still cases of measles to be dealt with.

In many countries where MSF works the population has not been immunised for many years because of warfare or civil unrest disrupting preventive health programmes. There is no specific treatment against the measles virus.

Thus MSF teams concentrate on treating the complications of measles. Chest infections, especially the most severe form known as pneumonia, are treated with antibiotics.

Diarrhoea is treated with oral rehydration solution. And all children with measles are given a preventive dose of vitamin A.