Measles outbreak threatens existence of Yanomami communities
The Yanomami communities live in the Amazonian rain forest across the Venezuelan and Brazilian border.
The problems in Venezuela have caused the virtual collapse of the health services there,
and normal immunisation programs have not been kept up.
Measles has been transmitted to the Yanomami Indians through contact with miners and outbreaks have swept south into Brazil.
Without immunisation, the Yanomami have no defence against the disease, and their very existence is threatened.
Survival International are appealing for funds to mount an immunisation program
to give the Yanomamia a fighting chance.
