SUDAN— Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and multiple health organizations, have confirmed that in Sudan’s White Nile state, at least 13 children have died over the past week due to a suspected measles outbreak.

Officials with the MSF also noted that they remain vigilant and are updating the Global Health bodies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) about an increase in suspected measles cases.

Moreover, Sudan’s conflict and the approach of the rainy season could make the situation much worse.

Speaking to VOA from Nairobi, Kenya, MSF’s health advisor Mitchell Sangma said that the health body’s ground team has documented more than 200 suspected cases of measles among children in the last month.

Dr. Sangma said noted that out of 200 suspected cases, 72 were admitted to hospitals and 13 died.

“We are also seeing an increasing number of suspected measles in our other projects such as in Blue Nile state in Sudan,” the doctor added.

The MSF official reiterated that the nearly three-month-old conflict in Sudan between the army and a rival paramilitary group has created a huge medical need and intense pressure on healthcare facilities all over the country.

Sangma said that MSF and other aid agencies are concerned about the collapsing health system. He says health centres still in operation are struggling to cope with limited supplies and staff.

“The rainy season could also confound the increased possibility of disease outbreaks among the millions of people displaced from their homes by the war,” warned the MSF health adviser.

The organization has also appealed for a need to step up services like vaccinations, nutritional support, shelter, water, and sanitation.

VOA reached out to Mustafa Jabrallah Ahmed, director general at the Ministry of Health in Blue Nile for this story, but he declined to comment, saying he was busy with meetings.

The potential spread into neighbouring countries

Subsequently, Dr. Sangama added that in Renk, on the other side of the border in South Sudan, MSF was also seeing increasing measles cases in their measles isolation wards and hence the situation for people fleeing the conflict is desperately concerning.

The WHO also reported that six of counties in South Sudan’s Unity State, located in the greater Upper West Nile region, have reported cases of measles.

Loro Fredrick Beden, WHO’s field coordinator in Unity State, said that the suspected cases of measles have increased since the beginning of July.

In response, Unity State health director Dr. Duol Biem said that the government and non-profit organizations are conducting mass vaccination campaigns to control the spread of the disease.

Biem said Koch, Guit, Rubkona, Leer, Mayendit and Mayom counties have recorded cases of the disease due to the influx of refugees and returnees fleeing the conflict in Sudan, and state health workers are working with aid agencies to vaccinate children against the killer disease and control its spread.

Nevertheless, Biem added that the agencies had vaccinated more than 9,000 children at Riotriak transit camp, targeting children aged 6 months to 16 years.

“The aim is that this campaign will halt the transmission of measles, and safeguard the vulnerable population,” Biem said.

The health ministry said that it would also provide polio and Covid-19 vaccines to adults who are returning or seeking refuge in South Sudan because of the crisis.

More than 2.8 million people have been displaced due to the Sudan conflict, including over 2.2 million internally, according to a report released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

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