Two suspended after measles epidemic in Maharashtra village

MUMBAI - Two local officials in Maharashtra have been suspended following the deaths of two children and 26 others affected by a measles epidemic in a village in Aurangabad district, officials said Monday.

Thw two children, around seven years old, from Dongaav village died two weeks ago due to post-measles complications. They developed pneumonia and suffered from severe weight loss, officials said.

Twenty-six other children of the area were hit with measles; two of them are still critical.

“We have suspended a lady health visitor and the anganwadi supervisor in this connection. We have also sent show cause notices to the medical officer, child development project officer and taluka medical officer,” Rahul Mahiwal of the Aurangabad Zilla Parishad (district council) told IANS.

“We are conducting inquiries and checking whether the children of the habitat were given proper diet and proper vaccination,” Mahiwal added.