The Ministry of Health in Warrap State has declared a measles outbreak in Kuajok County after recording 30 cases with two deaths at Kuajok hospital.
Measles is a highly contagious, serious disease caused by a virus, according to WHO.
Before the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963 and widespread vaccination, major epidemics occurred approximately every 2–3 years and measles caused an estimated 2.6 million deaths each year.
John Akol Akol, a surveillance officer at Kuajok ministry, says 25 samples were recently taken to Juba for a test and were confirmed positive.
He says the cases are recorded in children under five years and these cases are for the month of July and August.
“We are struggling very hard to supply the medicines for treating the affected children. If we find children suffering from measles, we inject them to recover from sickness,” Akol told Mayardit FM.
The health official urgeD parents to take their children for checkup and treatment as soon as they show signs of fever, dry cough, runny nose, sore throat, inflamed eyes, and tiny white spots.
In July, the administration of Mother Teresa Hospital in Twic County of Warrap State recorded eight cases of suspected measles among children of returnees fleeing the Sudan conflict.