Measles cases spike in Juba and Terekeka counties in South Sudan

The minister of health in South Sudan’s Central Equatoria State has said there has been a marked increase in the highly contagious infectious measles disease in Juba and Terekeka counties. According to Minister Najuwa Juma Murshal, 50 new cases were registered in five Payams of Juba County while 8 others were recorded in two Payams of Tereka County over the last week. “What I know is that there are 50 cases recorded in Juba County on Sunday last week of October. There are also 3 cases in Muni, 4 in Terekeka, and another in Gemeza Payam of Terekeka County,” she said. “We have sent the state and county rapid response team to do vaccination there. My message to the public is that they need to follow the preventive measures and report suspected cases to the county health departments and health ministry.” “I also call on our health partners to stand with the ministry of health in stopping the spread of the disease in the reported areas,” Minister Juma added. On his part, the Central Equatoria State information minister, Andruga Mabe, said the state council of ministers in its Monday meeting directed the state finance ministry to allocate and approve an emergency budget to contain the disease. “The council passed the health emergency plan and directed the minister of health to implement the plan with immediate effect,” he said. “And the council also directed the minister of finance to avail necessary funds to meet the cost of implementation of this emergency plan.” According to the Central Equatoria State health minister, the areas in Juba County which recorded measles disease include Northern Bari, Rajaf, Mangala, Amadi, Luri, and the three Blocks of Kator, Munuki, and Juba. South Sudan’s national health ministry declared an outbreak of measles disease on 27 July after 5 deaths.