Child receiving vaccination. (Photo: WHO)

Health authorities and partners in Unity State on Tuesday launched a measles vaccination campaign after registering 50 cases of the contagious disease in displacement camps.

The state Minister of Health, Stephen Tot Chang said the exercise is targeting about 17,000 people aged 5 to 59 within the displaced person camps in Bentiu and Robkona town.

Chang said the national Ministry of Health has tested and confirmed the 50 cases in Juba.

“We are launching a measles vaccination tomorrow (Tuesday),” he told Eye Radio.

“This vaccination is a collective responsibility of the government to at least advocate and health partners came in WHO as well as World Bank together with UNICEF,’ said the minister.

He added that the most targeted areas are the former Bentiu PoCs, Rubkona town and Bentiu town.

Measles is one of the world’s most contagious diseases – spread by coughing and sneezing, close personal contact, or direct contact with infected nasal or throat secretions.

The viral disease can be transmitted by an infected person from 4 days prior to the onset of the rash to 4 days after the rash erupts.

The WHO however recommends routine measles vaccination for children, combined with mass immunization campaigns in countries with high case and death rates to reduce measles-related deaths.