The Director General at the Ministry of Health in Western Bahr el Ghazal State on Tuesday revealed that the state has registered 194 active cases of measles disease and five death cases.
James Ambrose Ucini said more than a hundred children have been infected and called on the national health ministry to intervene to curb the further spread of the disease in the state.
“The total number listed is 194 and the total number of deaths from measles is five. The samples sent to the National Laboratory in Juba were diagnosed as measles cases,” he stated. “I hope that in the coming days the national health ministry, World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and other partners will organize resource mobilization so that we can do social mobilization to reduce measles cases.”
Ucini revealed that the state ministry of health, in collaboration with health partners, has already dispatched a team to rural areas to sensitize the citizens about the disease. He also advised families to keep their children clean to avoid contracting measles disease.
According to WHO, Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. It spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. It can cause severe disease, complications, and even death. Measles can affect anyone but is most common in children.
Measles infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and a rash all over the body.
Being vaccinated is the best way to prevent getting sick with measles or spreading it to other people. The vaccine is safe and helps your body fight off the virus.