10 children die from measles in Yemen’s Marib since Jan.: health authorities-Xinhua

ADEN, Yemen, March 10 (Xinhua) — Health authorities in the Yemeni province of Marib reported on Monday that 10 children have died from measles since January amid an ongoing outbreak in the country’s northeastern regions.

A statement from health authorities in the government-controlled Marib indicated that 663 suspected measles cases have been recorded in the province so far this year, with 70 officially confirmed by the central laboratory.

“The rapid response teams in Marib are making field efforts to monitor, investigate, and follow up on infected cases,” the statement said, adding that health education volunteers are spreading awareness about the importance of disease prevention through vaccination.

The Yemeni Health Ministry urged parents to promptly report suspected cases with symptoms of fever and rash and to seek immediate medical attention at the nearest health facility.

The outbreak follows a larger health crisis reported in November 2024, when the World Health Organization announced that 280 deaths from measles had been recorded in Yemen since the beginning of that year, with approximately 33,000 suspected cases nationwide.

War-ravaged Yemen is grappling with outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, including polio, acute watery diarrhea, cholera, measles, diphtheria, malaria, and dengue fever.

Yemen’s health sector continues to face severe challenges as a result of the decade-long conflict between the internationally recognized government and the Houthi group. ■