A measles vaccination campaign is currently underway in South Sudan’s Bieh State for the first time since the country’s civil war broke out in December 2013.

The campaign was officially launched in Waat town on Monday.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, the director general in the state health ministry, Duop Rom Kok said the exercise, which will run for four days, targets at least 2,000 children from across the state. 

“We vaccinated 500 children in Waat town since Monday, but it is still ongoing. We will extend it to Pulchuol, Motot and Wunbil areas,” he said.

Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by the measles virus. It is normally characterized by ‘Koplik's spots’ appearing inside the mouth. These are small red spots with blue-white centers.