Measles case refugees isolated

Two-years old Doris Nyambura receives a dose of the measles vaccination.

What you need to know:

  • More than 20 South Sudanese have been admitted to Lokichoggio sub-county hospital with signs of measles.
  • Some of the patients had been moved to Kakuma refugee camp after receiving treatment

More than 20 South Sudanese have been admitted to Lokichoggio sub-county hospital with signs of measles.

Eighteen of them are in an isolation ward.

“Laboratory analysis indicates that the patients are suffering from measles and (they) are receiving treatment at the Lokichoggio sub-county hospital,” said Dr Nelson Lolos, team leader of a medical team sent to the Kenya-South Sudan border.

Some of the patients had been moved to Kakuma refugee camp after receiving treatment, he said.

“The influx of refugees to the camp is causing a strain on available resources, including medical care and water,” Dr Lolos told the Nation by phone.

Some 130,000 people fleeing the fighting between South Sudanese government troops and rebels aligned to former vice-president Rieck Machar are at the Kakuma camp.

A South Sudanese died of suspected yellow fever at the Nadapal border region.

“Medical personnel comprising disease outbreak and control officers from Turkana County were at the common border to screen the refugees before they are admitted to the Kakuma camp,” said Dr Lolos.

Those identified as suffering from measles were isolated and were being treated at Lokichoggio hospital.

“More blood samples have been sent to the Kenya Medical Research Institute for further analysis after two more refugees showed symptoms of the disease,” said Dr Lolos.

PROPER HYGIENE

He said a team of medical personnel were at the Kakuma camp to sensitize the refugees on proper hygiene.

“We are making referral to nearest health facilities and sensitizing on how to observe proper hygiene,” explained Dr Lolos.

The influx of the refuges has led to dispute with the locals over sharing of scare natural resources.

Among the resources disputed resources include water and wood fuel with the local community accusing the refugees of engaging in wanton environmental destruction through unchecked harvesting of trees and encroaching of their boreholes for water.

Unconfirmed sources indicates that UNHCR spends an average of Sh 18 billion annually at the camp to support the refugees that tickles down to mushrooming of small scale businesses.