Healthcare worker vaccinates a child against measles. | File/Courtesy.

At least three children have died in Nasir County of Upper Nile State after suffering from measles that is currently an outbreak in the remote area, the state health minister said.

Upper Nile Health Minister Dr. Buyini Ernest said there have been records of more than 120 cases of the viral disease in Nasir.

Minister Buyini said his office is currently involved in awareness campaigns to sensitize local communities to vaccinate their children in the area, while confirming that local community leaders are now campaigning for the immunization.

In an interview with Eye Radio, Mr. Buyini said the state health ministry is rolling out vaccines in Nasir and Ulang counties.

“We are going to do a campaign of vaccination for this outbreak of measles because I have been there a week ago, we will do the vaccination for the whole of the county and the neighboring county of Ulang,” he said.

“It’s the only place that now has this measles outbreak. The death cases are three children and more than 120 people have been diagnosed with the sickness, but all the cases that we visited in Nasir are stable.”

“We have started to fight this sickness through the campaign and vaccination using the community leaders, rising the awareness through the community in the leadership of the paramount chief and raise the awareness to those families who are not vaccinate their children.”

Last year, two measles outbreaks were declared by South Sudan’s health authorities, with the latter affecting all the states and administrative areas.

The latest health report from UN agencies indicated that there have been reports of measles and malnutrition cases, particularly amongst returnees fleeing conflict in Sudan and host communities.

Since May 2023, medical facilities in Upper Nile have been receiving patients, especially children below five years old, suffering from measles and other critical conditions.

Children are the most affected, with more than 80 per cent of patients being children under four years old, according to agencies reports.