Lakes State health officials have confirmed 12 new cases of measles. The confirmation follows testing of samples as part of ongoing vaccination campaign being conducted across the Country.
Maker Malok, Director General at the State Ministry of Health, reported the confirmed cases in an interview with Standard Zone News on Monday.
“We currently have 184 suspected cases,” Malok stated. “Out of these, 30 samples were sent to Juba for testing, and 12 of them tested positive for the measles virus. This confirmed that we have a measles outbreak.”
Malok further explained that prior to initiating a state-wide measles follow-up campaign, the Ministry had already identified suspected cases in Rumbek East, Rumbek Center, Cueibet, and one case in Wulu County.
“We have some suspected cases in different villages across the counties of Lakes State, but they have not been officially recorded. The few cases that are coming to health facilities are the ones we have managed to record so far,” he added.
In response to the outbreak, Lakes State launched a measles vaccination campaign last week, aiming to immunize 297,867 children aged 6 months to 5 years after 72 measles cases were reported across Rumbek Central, Wulu, Rumbek East, and Cueibet Counties.
Malok emphasized that the focus of the campaign is on young children, as they are the primary group affected by the outbreak.
“Adults are not included in the campaign. The majority of cases and complications we are seeing are among young children who have not been immunized,” he explained.
While some parents have vaccinated their children, many, especially those in cattle camps and fishing villages, remain unvaccinated.
“These children may not visit health facilities and could develop measles in their communities,” Malok warned.
Despite the absence of specific treatment for measles, Malok reassured the public that the disease is preventable through vaccination.
“The disease is preventable with the vaccine, and there is no direct treatment. If a child contracts it, the disease will usually resolve on its own, provided the child’s immune system is functioning properly,” he said.
The Ministry of Health is actively engaging with local communities to raise awareness about the importance of vaccination, especially in light of the public health challenge posed by the outbreak.
Dr. Kawa Koul Tong, a UNICEF Health Officer, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to the vaccination efforts.
“UNICEF is committed to ensuring the vaccine supply chain is functional, reaching all children, leaving no child behind,” Dr. Tong said.
He also called for collective action in the fight against measles, urging, “Measles is a fatal disease. Let’s join hands as county medical officers, the Ministry of Health, and communities to vaccinate every child.”
