A measles vaccination drive is underway in parts of Pigi County in Jonglei state, authorities said.
Nyok Malual Mayik, the Pigi County commissioner, told Radio Tamazuj Thursday that they launched the campaign because there is an outbreak of the contagious viral disease.
“Last week, measles vaccination started in Canal, Khorfulus, Mat Konliet, and Ayok areas. The campaign targets all children there because one child tested positive for the disease,” he said.
Meanwhile, Duop Kok Rom, the acting director-general at the state health ministry, said they started rolling out measles vaccines in parts of the state last week to tackle the outbreak.
“We are starting this drive in areas where there are outbreaks. In Pigi for example we have one measle case and so vaccination is ongoing now with over 530 doses. In Bor IDP Camp, there are two cases of measles, and a campaign will also start soon targeting 330 children,” he said.
The official, however, said that they are engaging health partners operating in the state so that a campaign is launched for the rest of the state.
For his part, Dr. Bol Chaw Manyang, the medical director at Bor State Hospital, urged parents to vaccinate their children, saying vaccine doses are available at the hospital.