Dozens of suspected measles cases have been recorded at Abyei Hospital in the contested territory between Sudan and South Sudan, a senior health official said.
Yusuf Lal Ayom, the Director of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in the Abyei Area Administration, told Radio Tamazuj that about 28 measles cases among children were recorded at Abyei Hospital.
Ayok pointed out that a routine vaccination against six childhood diseases has stopped in Abyei since 2011. However, he didn’t mention the reason for failing to resume the immunization. The six deadly diseases that are prevented by the vaccination are tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, polio, tuberculosis, and measles.
The EPI director appealed to families to report any suspected measles cases so health authorities can intervene before the disease worsens further.
The Abyei official also urged the National Ministry of Health to intervene as soon as possible.