Mayak Malok, the head of health services for Maban County in South Sudan's Upper Nile state, said there is a measles outbreak among Blue Nile refugees in the area.

Mayak told Radio Tamazuj that cases of measles disease have been recorded at Blue Nile refugee camps of Goz, Mahmud, Jamam and Kaya.

The official said the spread of measles is due to movement of families without receiving good treatment.

Mayak added that a campaign to vaccinate against six childhood diseases kicked off recently in the county.

He said the vaccination process started on 22 February and will end after four days, targeting nearly 25,000 children under 5 years old as well as those under 15.

The official called upon families to cooperate with vaccination teams deployed in the area.

Separately, Mayak expressed concern about the spread of malaria and diarrhoea diseases in some areas in the county.

Photo: Children waiting in line to get their measles vaccination at a clinic in Yusuf Batil Camp, Maban (Medair / Anne Reitsema)