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The Zambian government has confirmed 119 measles cases out of 700 suspected cases recorded between January and June 2026, with Western Province emerging as the epicentre of the outbreak.
Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Dr. Kennedy Lishimpi, said this had prompted an emergency vaccination campaign targeting children in five high-risk districts.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka on Thursday, Lishimpi said Western Province accounts for the highest burden with 329 suspected cases with the outbreak also hitting Lusaka, North Western and Southern provinces.
He said the national tally included 92 hospital admissions and four deaths linked to the outbreak.
Lishimpi stated that Shang’ombo and Sikongo Districts in Western Province recorded 83 admissions and three mortalities, while Lusaka district reported four admissions and one death.
“Measles remains one of the most contagious viral diseases and continues to pose a significant public health threat, especially among children who are unimmunized and partially immunized,” he said.
Lishimpi warned that while most cases were self-limiting, measles may complicate into severe pneumonia, diarrhoea, blindness and inflammation of the brain and subsequently may cause death.
Analysis of confirmed cases shows that 87.4 percent of cases have an unknown or missing immunization history and Lishimpi said the finding highlights significant immunity gaps within affected communities.
“This finding emphasizes the need for families and caregivers to ensure that children are vaccinated according to schedule,” he said.
Lishimpi reminded parents that the measles vaccine was safe, effective, and provided free of charge at all Government health facilities as part of the National Routine Immunization Programme.
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In response, the Ministry of Health has fully activated the National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre under the Zambia National Public Health Institute to coordinate a comprehensive, multi-sectoral response across all affected districts.
Lishimpi said the ministry would conduct targeted Emergency Measles-Rubella Outbreak Immunisation campaigns for children aged 6 months to 9 years in Sikongo, Shangombo, Chavuma, Chirundu and Lusaka from July 6 to July 11, 2026. Routine immunisation continues in all other districts.
He said enhanced surveillance and rapid response measures have been intensified anf multidisciplinary rapid response teams were being deployed within 24 hours to investigate every confirmed case, conduct contact tracing, and implement appropriate public health interventions.
“The ministry is also distributing vaccines, laboratory reagents, medicines, and other emergency response commodities to affected provinces. The move is meant to support frontline health workers and ensure uninterrupted service delivery,” Lishimpi said.
He stated that risk communication and community engagement had been scaled up to encourage vaccine uptake and promote early health-seeking behaviour and the ministry was working to address misinformation surrounding vaccines.
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