Juba, 13 November 2015 - The World Health Organization (WHO), Ministry of Health (MoH), and health partners are rapidly responding to a new measles outbreak and have vaccinated over 12 000 children at the protection-of-civilians (PoC) sites and surrounding host communities.

Since the beginning of October 2015, 15 suspected cases and no deaths have been reported from the PoC, with all cases being in children under five years of age. The National Public Health Laboratory has confirmed nine of the 15 samples as positive for measles IgM. In response, three fixed immunization sites and four outreach posts have been established in the PoCs in Juba.

“Even one case of measles is a severe threat to children, especially those in crowded living conditions,” said Dr Abdulmumini Usman, WHO Representative for South Sudan. “With this, WHO has aggressively implemented immunization campaigns in PoC sites and the surrounding host communities to drive down the number of cases and save lives.”

“Community surveillance and active case search with comprehensive reporting and investigation of all fever and rash cases is also underway with special measles vaccination posts set up at the entrance to the PoC for all new arrivals from Bentui and other conflict affected states,” Dr Usman added.

The highly contagious virus is spread by coughing and sneezing, close personal contact or direct contact with infected nasal or throat secretions. The first sign of measles is usually a high fever, which begins about 10 to 12 days after exposure to the virus, and lasts four to seven days. 

A runny nose, a cough, red and watery eyes, and small white spots inside the cheeks can develop in the initial stage. After several days, a rash erupts, usually on the face and upper neck. Over about three days, the rash spreads, eventually reaching the hands and feet.

Severe measles is more likely among poorly nourished young children in refugee and internally displaced person (IDP) settings, especially those with insufficient vitamin A, or whose immune systems have been weakened by HIV/AIDS or other diseases. In populations with high levels of malnutrition and a lack of adequate health care, up to 10% of measles cases result in death.

There have been no deaths in the latest crisis but measles-related deaths are caused by complications associated with the disease. Complications include severe diarrhoea and related dehydration, severe respiratory infections such as pneumonia, blindness, encephalitis (an infection that causes brain swelling).

Severe complications can be avoided through supportive care that ensures good nutrition, adequate fluid intake, vitamin A supplementation and treatment of diarrhoea with WHO-recommended oral rehydration solution and zinc. This solution replaces fluids and other essential elements that are lost through diarrhoea or vomiting.

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For more information, please contact:

Technical contacts:

Dr Allan Mpairwe; Tel: +472 416 7507; Email:  mpairwea [at] who.int
Morris Gargar; Tel: +211-955560427/ +211-927296042 Email:  gargarmorris [at] gmail.com

Media contact:

Dr Cory Couillard; Tel: + 472 413 9995; Email:  couillardc [at] who.int