Goulmou: The regional health director of Goulmou, Mahamadi Yerbanga, announced on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, that the region recorded 1,878 cumulative cases of measles from week 1 to week 9 of 2026, with a peak observed in the Matiakoali health district. He called for the strengthening of preventive measures.

According to Burkina Information Agency, during the traditional flag-raising ceremony for the constituted bodies of the Goulmou region, held on March 3, 2026, in Fada N'Gourma, the regional director of Health for Goulmou, Mahamadi Yerbanga, indicated that 38 new cases had been reported the previous day. The majority of cases are recorded at the Matiakoali Medical Center (CM), which alone accounts for approximately 1,500 cumulative cases since the beginning of the year.

The regional director specified that the cases largely originate from localities in the interior of the Tapoa region, particularly Logobou and Sakoani, from which patients converge on Matiakoali for treatment. Mr. Yerbanga noted, however, that the infection curve appears to be showing a slight downward trend, while urging caution and vigilance.

To curb the spread of the disease, the regional health director for Goulmou urged the population to strictly adhere to preventive measures, including hygiene, avoiding close contact, and wearing protective masks. He also encouraged anyone exhibiting suspicious symptoms to promptly refer them to health centers.

Regarding the vaccination response, Mahamadi Yerbanga indicated that nearly 30,000 children aged 1 to 4 years have already been vaccinated in the region. He did, however, lament a shortage of vaccines, observed even at the national level, while reassuring the public that arrangements are underway to deliver new doses, particularly to Matiakoali.

Mr. Yerbanga also reported at least one confirmed death linked to measles. "Two or three other deaths have been recorded, without formal confirmation of their link to the disease," he specified, emphasizing that malnourished children remain particularly vulnerable.

Finally, he called for the support of administrative authorities, community leaders, and the media to disseminate information and raise awareness among the population in order to contain the epidemic in the Goulmou region.