There have been at least 20 cases of measles in South Sudan’s Maban County since 31 October, according to aid group Medair. Thousands of vaccines have been sent to the area to contain the outbreak.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that is usually characterized by fever, rashes and cough. It can be prevented by vaccination but once contracted there is no specific treatment to cure it.
Cases have been identified in all four refugee camps in Maban: Yusuf Batil, Kaya, Gendrassa, Doro, as well as among the host community who live in the surrounding areas.
Mary Bradley, Medair Health Manager said the vaccination campaign has gotten underway after the discovery of more cases in Yusuf Batil refugee camp.
“While we were waiting on the supplies for this to be done to arrive, our health workers have been finding cases in the community and giving treatment to those already infected,” said
“It’s a huge undertaking. We’re expecting to see around 19,000 children in the ten days of the campaign. We have a team of 80 people involved who are working long days towards achieving that.”
“We’ve done three days so far, and we’re ahead of schedule. We’ve seen more than 8,000 children so far,” she said.
Meanwhile, as part of an ‘integrated campaign,’ other aid organizations are expected to carry out the same vaccinations in the other camps in the county.
Photo: Children waiting in line to get their measles vaccination at a clinic in Yusuf Batil Camp, Maban (Medair / Anne Reitsema)