A rapidly expanding measles outbreak has infected 33,926 people and claimed 523 lives in South Kivu Province since the beginning of 2026, exposing the vulnerability of a health system already strained by armed conflict, population displacement, and limited access to healthcare.
According to the South Kivu Provincial Health Division (DPS), the outbreak has now spread across all 34 health zones of the province, highlighting sustained community transmission in areas where routine immunization coverage remains inadequate.
« Since the beginning of the year, we have recorded 33,926 measles cases and 523 deaths across the province’s 34 health zones, » said Justin Bengheya, Head of Health Information and Epidemiological Surveillance at the South Kivu Provincial Health Division.
A Preventable Disease That Continues to Kill
Measles is one of the world’s most contagious viral diseases. A single infected person can transmit the virus to nearly every unvaccinated individual they come into contact with.
Although vaccination provides effective protection, ongoing conflict, disruptions to health services, logistical challenges, and population displacement continue to hinder immunization efforts in many parts of South Kivu.
Children under the age of five remain the most vulnerable. Among unvaccinated children, measles can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia, acute diarrhea, encephalitis, malnutrition, and death.
Urban Areas Also Affected
The outbreak is no longer confined to remote communities. In Ibanda Health Zone, located in Bukavu, health authorities have reported 1,553 cases and one death since January. While the case fatality rate is lower than in several rural health zones, the high number of infections indicates that transmission remains active even in urban settings.
Health officials warn that population mobility and pockets of low vaccination coverage continue to fuel the spread of the disease.
Strengthening Vaccination and Disease Surveillance
Provincial health authorities are calling for intensified vaccination campaigns, stronger epidemiological surveillance, and earlier detection and treatment of suspected cases.
Parents are urged to seek immediate medical care if a child develops a high fever followed by a skin rash and to ensure their children receive all recommended routine vaccinations.
According to the Provincial Health Division, only a coordinated response involving local communities, humanitarian partners, and health authorities will help slow transmission and reduce preventable deaths.
In a province already grappling with conflict and one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, the measles outbreak underscores the urgent need to strengthen routine immunization services and build a more resilient healthcare system capable of responding to recurring public health emergencies.
