South Sudan declares measles outbreak among returnees in Unity State

A community health worker vaccinates children against measles outside of Kuajok, South Sudan (AP Photo/Sam Mednick)

JUBA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's health authorities in Rubkona County of Unity State on Monday declared a measles outbreak among returnees displaced by conflict in neighboring Sudan.

Jal Kuol Malow, Rubkona County health director, told Xinhua in an interview that they have so far confirmed 86 cases of measles among returnees in Rotriah Payam health facility and Bentiu Internally Displaced Persons Camp.

"We have confirmed 86 cases of measles outbreak in greater Rubkona, and most of these cases are among returnee children aged 4-6," he said.

Malow said the affected children were not vaccinated against measles while they were in war-torn Sudan.

"The Ministry of Health and humanitarian partners conducted a measles vaccination campaign in Rotriah Payam for returnees, and a similar measles vaccination campaign will take place this week in Rubkona town and Bentiu Internally Displaced Persons Camp," he said.

South Sudan now hosts more than 138,000 returnees, including refugees who fled fighting in Sudan across the 12 border crossing points, according to the United Nations.

Brutal fighting erupted in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum on April 15 and swiftly escalated in different parts of the country. The ongoing fighting is pitting the Sudanese Armed Forces against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Both sides have accused each other of initiating the conflict.