Outbreak of measles in displaced camp

In the first week of February, an intensive vaccination campaign was launched in the Omdurman El-Salaam Displaced Persons Camp in response to an outbreak of measles. The international health organisation MEDAIR said the campaign was launched after discussions with the local Ministry of Health, as a standard precautionary measure. In information sent to IRIN by MEDAIR, the organisation said three cases of measles had been seen in the first week of February at MEDAIR's Primary Health Care Centre in the camp - "this number of cases counts as an outbreak." It said measles was "a highly contagious disease, and can have a devastating effect, especially amongst malnourished children and is particularly dangerous in a crowded camp situation."

On 10 February the vaccination team immunised 780 children, aged six months to five years, in the camp. Health and community workers were mobilised in the local community, visiting homes and schools to ensure children in the target range were vaccinated. MEDAIR said vaccines were supplied by UNICEF, through the local Ministry of Health.