South Sudan: 15 children dead from contaminated measles vaccine

Fifteen children died in South Sudan from receiving a contaminated measles vaccine, the World Health Organization said in a statement on Friday.

Around 300 people in the rural and remote Nachodokopele village in South Sudan are believed to have received the compromised vaccine, which took place between May 2 and 5, Reuters reported.

An investigative committee determined administrators failed to comply with established safety procedures in the vaccines storage, handling and administration.

At least 32 children presented with fever, vomiting and diarrhea, but recovered, the world health body said.

An investigation into the tainted vaccine campaign determined that vaccine administrators reused syringes for multiple vaccine vials over the entire four days of the campaign instead of discarding it after a single use. A dirty syringe contaminates the vaccine and infects vaccinated children.

Additionally, investigating bodies determined that the vaccination team did not properly store the vaccine at the required cold temperature over the entirety of the four day campaign, compromising its quality.

The investigation was conducted by the National Adverse Events Following Immunization Committee. The Sudanese Ministry of Health is reviewing the investigation and will recommend actions to improve immunization safety, the WHO said in a statement.