Health authorities in South Sudan’s Unity state have confirmed 51 cases of measles following an outbreak in Rubkona county.
Unity state Health Minister, Stephen Tot Jokchieng Nyuon said the cases were reported in October and November.
“We have confirmed 51 cases of the measles outbreak, the samples were taken to Juba and the results were found positive. Among the 51 confirmed cases, most of them were children and there are no death cases, but some are in severe conditions,” he said.
Minister Nyuon said they are worried that the infectious disease would spread in the nearby congested internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp and among those displaced by floods in Bentiu town, Guit, Bieh, and Thoan IDPs camp.
He disclosed that they are planning to evacuate children with severe measles to a health facility in Bentiu IDPs camp run by the medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
Nyuon added that they are working with the World Health Organization and other humanitarian partners to conduct a measles public awareness campaign next week to disseminate measles prevention messages to the community, especially in Rubkona town, Bentiu town, and Bentiu IDPs camp.
