More than 21,500 children under the age of five have been vaccinated from measles in Abyei, the International Organization for Migration said today.
In September, South Sudan’s Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization said there was an outbreak of measles in Abyei, with more than 50 reported cases.
Measles is a contagious respiratory infection that causes skin rash, fever and coughing.
The vaccination campaign faced difficulties — heavy rains and poor road conditions disrupted access for several days, IOM said.
“Measles is one of the leading causes of death among young children in the region, where access to health care is limited for thousands of children,” IOM South Sudan Chief of Mission William Barriga said.
Abyei is a disputed area that is oil rich and claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan.