At least 32 people, mostly children, have died from a measles outbreak in northeastern Uganda, the Ministry of Health has confirmed. The outbreak was declared one month ago and continues to spread in several districts.
According to the ministry, the deaths have been recorded in four districts in the Karamoja sub-region. Napak district has reported the highest number with 17 child deaths, followed by Nakapiripirit with seven deaths. Abim and Moroto districts have each recorded four deaths.
In the last 24 hours alone, health officials confirmed 24 new measles cases in five districts. This brings the total number of reported cases in the region to 505 since the outbreak began.
The Ministry of Health said it has stepped up response efforts to control the disease. Emergency Operation Center (EOC) teams were deployed within 72 hours to affected districts to investigate the outbreak, strengthen surveillance, and support local health workers. Active case searching and community monitoring are ongoing.
Health authorities identified several factors that contributed to the outbreak. These include low vaccination coverage, delayed detection of the disease, failure to vaccinate children on time, late visits to health facilities, and weak disease surveillance in remote areas.
To contain the outbreak, the government has launched a measles vaccination campaign targeting children aged six months to 15 years in the affected districts. Health workers are also educating communities on the importance of early treatment and routine immunization.
Last year, Uganda experienced a wider measles outbreak that affected 56 districts across the country, highlighting ongoing challenges in vaccination and disease prevention.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads through coughing and sneezing. It mainly affects children and can cause serious complications, especially in malnourished or unvaccinated children. Common symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash. Symptoms usually appear seven to 14 days after infection, according to the World Health Organization.
Health officials have urged parents and caregivers to ensure children are vaccinated and to seek medical care immediately if measles symptoms appear, as the country works to stop further loss of life.
