Pic by Pradeep Pathirana    

UNICEF, together with WHO, will support the Ministry of Health in implementing a supplementary measles immunization activity (SIA) in Sri Lanka aimed at controlling the ongoing measles outbreak, as over 700 measles cases have been reported in the country since May 2023.   

The SIA is being launched in two phases; the first phase commenced on Saturday, targeting 6-9-month-olds in nine identified districts with a high population density, where measles cases were reported including Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Kandy, Jaffna, Kurunegala and Kalmunai.   

The second phase will be initiated on 20 January and extended to other age groups across the country. The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine was introduced into Sri Lanka’s immunisation programme in 1984. In 2001, a second dose of the vaccine was introduced to improve population level immunity and in 2019, the WHO declared Sri Lanka as a country free of measles. 

• Over 700 measles cases have been reported in the country since May 2023