Uganda measles outbreak: 2 children dead, 68 infected

At least two children have died of measles in a refugee settlement in Uganda’s mid-western district of Kiryandongo. Ugandan health authorities have also reported 68 children infected with the disease in the settlement, which hosts thousands of refugees from South Sudan. They attribute the outbreak to low immunization rates, high levels of malnutrition, and unrestricted movement within the settlement. To curb the spread of the disease, surveillance teams have intensified active case searches and community-based monitoring, identifying several additional cases.
Measles is highly contagious and spreads through coughing and sneezing. It can lead to severe complications. In 2024, Uganda had a massive measles outbreak in over 50 districts.