Togo and Senegal launch health responses to disease outbreaks

Togo has launched a major national health campaign to combat measles and rubella. Between November 24 and 30, 2025, the country deployed a large-scale operation targeting 2,271,000 children aged 6 months to 9 years. The initiative integrates vaccination with vitamin A supplementation, deworming with Albendazole, and routine vaccine catch-up efforts to ensure comprehensive protection.

In Senegal, health authorities are responding to a diphtheria outbreak in the Kédougou region. Twenty-two new cases have been confirmed across the Saraya, Kédougou, and Salémata districts, primarily affecting children with a median age of 7.5 years. Three deaths have been recorded in Bambaraya, Kédougou-ville, and Tenkoto.

Concerns have been raised regarding low vaccination coverage in the affected Senegalese districts. In Saraya, over 1,100 out of 2,489 surveyed children were unvaccinated, while Salémata reported very low immunization rates among children under five. Health teams have conducted over 400 home visits to increase surveillance and community awareness.