Buram, January 12 (Darfur24)
Health authorities in Buram locality, South Darfur State, reported on Saturday that 20 children have died and about 200 others have been infected in a measles outbreak spreading across the area.
Local media reported that medical teams, including doctors and health promotion staff, have begun providing services in affected neighborhoods, including awareness sessions for residents on prevention methods and the importance of vaccination.
The Health Promotion Department warned that delays in urgent intervention could lead to further spread of the disease and higher infection and death rates, particularly among children and other vulnerable groups.
The outbreak comes as a measles vaccination campaign was launched last week in Nyala with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), targeting 430,000 children aged between 9 months and 15 years in Nyala North, Nyala Municipality, and East Jebel locality.
According to a report by the General Directorate of Emergencies at the South Darfur Ministry of Health, the total number of measles cases recorded in 2025 has reached 2,209, including 19 deaths.
The report noted that most infections and fatalities were reported in Nyala North locality, Nyala Municipality, and East Jebel locality, where measles has spread to 12 of the state’s 21 localities.