<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;">A measles outbreak in Zimbabwe has killed at least 157 children, with more than 2,000 infections reported across the country, the government said on Tuesday.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Cases have been growing rapidly in the southern African nation since authorities said the first infection was logged earlier this month, with reported deaths almost doubling in less than a week.</div><div><br></div><div>"As of 15 August the cumulative figures across the country has risen to 2,056 cases and 157 deaths," Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said briefing journalists after a weekly cabinet meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>Mutsvangwa said the government was going to step up vaccinations, and has invoked special legislation allowing it to draw money from the national disaster fund "to deal with the emergency."</div><div><br></div><div>She said the government was to engage with traditional and faith leaders to garner their support with the vaccination campaign, adding all victims were not vaccinated.</div><div><br></div><div>The health ministry has previously blamed the outbreak on church sect gatherings.</div><div><br></div><div>The measles virus attacks mainly children with the most serious complications including blindness, brain swelling, diarrhoea and severe respiratory infections.</div><div><br></div><div>Its symptoms are a red rash that appears first on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Once very common it can now be prevented with a vaccine.</div><div><br></div><div>In April, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Africa was facing an explosion of preventable diseases due to delays in vaccinating children, with measles cases jumping 400 percent.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>