A measles vaccination exercise targeting 60,000 children is said to begin over the weekend in Twic County of Warrap state.
Measles is a childhood infection caused by a virus. It is a highly contagious, serious airborne disease caused by a virus that can lead to severe complications or death according to the World Health Organization.
Measles symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus and typically include high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes.
According to the state Ministry of Health, the planned vaccination is to see that children between 9 months and 5 years old are vaccinated against measles infection.
Between April and September this year, nearly 500 suspected cases of measles were recorded.
‘’We made the decision after 486 children, especially among the returnees who recently returned from Sudan were infected with measles. So, we are asking the public to support the campaign by availing targeted children in the designated vaccination centers across Twic county,’’ Mario Ring Atem told Mayardit 90.7 FM.
Atem, the health officer for World Health Organization in Twic urges parents to bring their children for vaccination at designated centers.
The planned vaccination campaign is being supported by the World Health Organization and other health partners in collaboration with the government of South Sudan.
Severe measles is more likely among poorly nourished young children in South Sudan, especially those with insufficient vitamin A, or whose immune systems have been weakened by HIV/AIDS or other diseases. In populations with high levels of malnutrition and a lack of adequate health care, up to 10% of measles cases result in death.