Outbreak of measles threatens the Amazon forest

caracas - An isolated Indian tribe in the Amazon forest has been hit by an outbreak of measles. 23 members of the Yanomamö are admitted to the hospital and hundreds more are threatened by the highly contagious virus, CNN reports.

According to Survival International, a human rights organization for indigenous peoples, the outbreak is alarming. The isolated Amazon inhabitants have little resistance to such diseases from the outside. 'That is why this measles epidemic, which broke out on the border between Venezuela and Brazil in recent months, is particularly worrying for Yanomamö and can be catastrophic. It could eradicate whole communities, 'says a researcher.

Aid organizations state that emergency aid is necessary and that vaccines must come. It is estimated that about 35,000 Yanomamö Indians live in the Amazon rainforest.

Invalid email address. Please fill in again.

Unsubscribe with 1 click