Thursday May 15, 2025
A child is vaccinated against measles at the UNICEF-supported Nutrition Health Centre in Hargeisa, Somaliland. (UNICEF)
Hargeisa (HOL) — A fast-spreading measles outbreak is sweeping across Somaliland, with more than 220 confirmed cases prompting urgent calls for vaccination and heightened public health surveillance.
The Ministry of Health Development said Thursday that 227 cases have been recorded across six regions, with the majority in Hargeisa and Berbera. Health authorities have raised concerns over the virus’s rapid transmission, especially among children, many of whom are now being treated in hospitals.
“This is a nationwide outbreak, and measles is a serious illness,” said Dr. Ahmed Mahmoud Jama, director general of the ministry. “It primarily affects children, but the consequences go far beyond the individual. The disease threatens to disrupt our healthcare system and economy.”
According to health officials, 30 suspected cases were tested before the outbreak was declared — 26 were confirmed positive. Hospitals in Hargeisa are managing a surge in cases, with some patients in critical condition, though no fatalities have been officially confirmed.The regional case breakdown is as follows:
Hargeisa: 160
Berbera: 27
Burao: 14
Sheikh: 5
Aynaba: 4
Smaller clusters: Baligubadle, Erigavo, Gabiley
Measles is a viral illness spread through coughing, sneezing, and close contact. Symptoms include high fever, persistent cough, runny nose, and red rashes that appear on the skin. The disease is preventable through vaccination, but inconsistent coverage and limited access to health services have left many children in the region vulnerable.
The outbreak adds to a growing list of health challenges in the region. In recent years, dengue fever — a mosquito-borne illness not previously common in Somaliland — has also emerged, leading to several deaths and straining already fragile health infrastructure.
Health authorities urge parents to seek medical care at the first sign of symptoms and to ensure their children receive routine immunizations. Emergency vaccination campaigns are being planned to contain the spread.
With measles now confirmed in all six regions, officials warn that the outbreak could worsen without swift intervention and support from local and international health partners.
The outbreak comes as the region continues to battle multiple infectious disease threats. On World Polio Day last October, the Federal Ministry of Health in Mogadishu, backed by WHO and UNICEF, urged intensified vaccination campaigns to fight what remains the world’s longest-running outbreak of variant poliovirus type 2. Health Minister Dr. Ali Haji Adam warned that unless immunization efforts were expanded, diseases like measles, cholera, and polio could overwhelm Somalia’s already stretched health infrastructure, especially in drought-affected or flooded regions where vaccine access is limited.