The number of children who died following the recent measles outbreak in Kideopo Valley County of Torit State has risen to 17, a local official said.

Last month, at least 28 suspected cases, including eight related deaths, were reported in Kideopo valley.

County Commissioner Peter Lokeng Lotone told Radio Tamazuj on Saturday that no vaccination has been conducted in the county ever since the measles outbreak was declared last month.

 “There is no vaccination since last time when I reported this case; we immediately need vaccines to come to help this community. Nothing has been done since from the time it started from Ramula payam, to Mohina payam and now Chorokol payam,” Lotone said.

He called for urgent intervention to save lives in the area.

Dr. Joseph Sebit Oliha, the acting director general at the state health ministry, confirmed the outbreak of measles in the greater Ikotos County, but said he had not yet received the number of cases.

He assured the public that the ministry was working with its partners to ensure that a vaccination campaign is carried out in the affected area.

“It is the responsibility of the state ministry of health to look into it and ensure that immunization takes place in those areas. This is our plan for now and very soon I think we are going to do that,” Sebit said.

However, he did not reveal when the vaccination campaign would commence.

Meanwhile, the state branch head for South Sudan Red Cross, Janet Lakony Karlo said they are aware of the measles outbreak in the county.

Lakony further said volunteers were trained on measles prevention and urged the locals to seek medical help to reduce the spread of the disease.