Measles outbreak kills 700 children in Zimbabwe as authorities blame anti-vax sects

The government has launched a mass vaccination campaign

Almost 700 children in Zimbabwe have died from a widespread measles outbreak, the country’s health ministry has announced.

The total death toll of 698 is more than four times the 157 deaths reported in August by the health ministry, which suggests that the deaths have rapidly increased over the past fortnight.

On September 1, a total of 37 children died of the highly infectious disease, the ministry added.