The administration in Madhya Pradesh’s Maihar district has initiated strict action after a measles outbreak affected several villages, with health authorities confirming infection in 21 children. The development has raised concerns over vaccination coverage and surveillance activities in the affected areas.

District Collector Vidisha Mukherjee reviewed the situation on Monday and expressed dissatisfaction over alleged negligence in immunisation and field monitoring efforts. The action follows a report submitted by the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO), highlighting gaps in vaccination and disease-control measures.

According to health department records, measles cases have been reported from Deori, Raigaon, Semra and Ajwain areas of Maihar block. Out of 43 suspected cases investigated so far, 21 children have been confirmed to be infected with measles. Most of the affected children belong to the zero-to-five-year age group.

The outbreak has already claimed the life of a three-year-old child, intensifying concerns among health officials and local residents. Authorities are now working to prevent further spread of the disease through surveillance and vaccination drives.

During a review meeting, the Collector found that certain sub-health centres had failed to conduct vaccination activities adequately. It was also observed that entries related to immunisation were not uploaded on the U-WIN portal, which is used for monitoring vaccination records.

Taking serious note of the matter, the district administration directed officials to fix accountability and ensure immediate corrective measures. The Collector warned that if improvements are not seen promptly, officials at both block and district levels could also face action.

The administration has additionally instructed authorities to take action against Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) found neglecting responsibilities related to door-to-door surveys and mobilising children for vaccination. Officials have been asked to ensure that all eligible children are covered through routine immunisation sessions and that no beneficiary is left out.

Block Medical Officers (BMOs) and Block Programme Managers (BPMs) have been directed to closely monitor vaccination sessions and ensure timely data entry on the U-WIN portal. District Immunisation Officer Dr. Suchitra Agrawal has been asked to conduct another review of the situation after ten days.

Meanwhile, CMHO Dr. Manoj Shukla has issued show-cause notices to Community Health Officer (CHO) Pooja Soni and Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) Vimla Shukla, both posted at the Ajmain sub-health centre. The notices cite alleged negligence in surveillance, monitoring and outbreak-control activities in the affected villages.

The officials have been directed to submit their replies within two days. The action was initiated after a report prepared by Maihar Block Medical Officer Dr. Piyush Pandey was forwarded to the CMHO for further proceedings.

The CMHO had also recommended temporary closure of schools and anganwadi centres in the affected area to contain the spread of infection. The proposal was sent to the district administration for consideration as health teams continue field investigations and awareness campaigns.

Health officials say measles cases are continuing to emerge from Maihar, Satna, Nagod and Majhgawan areas, making containment efforts critical in the coming days. Further surveillance and vaccination activities are underway, and authorities are closely monitoring the situation.