Nyongesa says the district surveillance team has also embarked on the active search for new cases in the communities.

Kampala-here is a reported measles outbreak in Mbale district. The District Health Officer, Dr. Jonathan Wangisi, says 12 of the 36 suspected measles cases tested positive.

He says they have embarked on treating the confirmed cases and asking the communities to refer suspected cases to the nearest health facilities for treatment.

Edward Juma Nyongesa, the Mbale District Disease Surveillance Focal Person, says the 36 cases of measles are drawn from Bungokho Mutoto, Bufumbo, Namabasa, Bukonde, Wanale and Bukasakya sub counties.

Others are from Industrial, Wanale and Northern Divisions and Nakaloke Town council. He says the worst affected are Industrial division, Bukonde and Bukasakya Sub Counties, where eight and seven cases were reported respectively.

Nyongesa says investigations show that only 3 out of the 12 cases were immunized against measles.

He says the district has started creating community awareness the disease through coordination with the National rapid response team.

He says they also intend to carry out a door to door measles immunization campaign in the affected sub counties and their neighboring areas.

Nyongesa says the district surveillance team has also embarked on the active search for new cases in the communities.

Emmanuel Tugaineyo Ituuza, the Director Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, says three children with Measles are admitted in the insolation room.

He says the community officer from Mbal Regional Referral hospital is working jointly with staff from the District Health Office to identify children in the communities who missed out on measles immunization.

Sarah Wayanga, a resident of Doko village in Bukasakya Sub County, says her twins contracted the disease from the neighbor’s children.