Uganda Deploys First National Emergency Medical Team in Response to Measles Outbreak in Karamoja
In a key move, Uganda’s Ministry of Health, supported by the World Health Organization, Malteser International, Robert Koch Institute and other partners, has activated its first national Emergency Medical Team (N-EMT) to tackle a severe measles outbreak in the Moroto district, Karamoja region.
Situated over 400 km from the capital, Kampala, Karamoja is home to over 1.2 million people, grappling with the highest rates of food insecurity, malnutrition, and disease mortality in Uganda. The region’s 126 health facilities struggle to meet these escalating health demands.
The outbreak, marked by over 200 cases and six fatalities in Moroto since early 2024, underscores the region’s urgent health needs. The N-EMT’s intervention at Moroto regional referral hospital has already managed 135 cases, one referral, and 65 children successfully treated and discharged as of July 22, 2024. Additionally, St. Pius Kidepo HCIII has handled 50 cases during this period. The current case fatality rate in Moroto stands at 3.3%. The EMT team still on ground to support the emergency response to this deadly disease.
