JUBA, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Health officials in South Sudan's Unity State on Friday confirmed 21 more measles deaths among children between 5 years and 10 years of age, bringing the total death toll to 61 since July.
Elijah Nyuon Kuoyuot, the health surveillance officer in Rubkona County, said the latest deaths have been recorded in Rubkona and Koch counties, and in Bentiu internally displaced persons camp where some of the returnees and refugees who fled ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan are being hosted.
"Measles death cases have rapidly increased due to congestion in the reception centers and in internally displaced persons camps in Bentiu," Kuoyuot told Xinhua in an interview over the phone.
The Unity State Ministry of Health initially confirmed 40 measles deaths and more than 800 admitted cases of measles in July alone.
Kuoyuot said they fear for the worst amid daily new arrivals of returnees and refugees across the border with Sudan.
"As I am talking now some death cases are not being reported to health facilities, so we are encouraging mothers and caretakers to immediately report any suspected case of measles disease to any nearest health facility," he added. ■
