LUSAKA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- At least four people have died following a measles outbreak in Zambia during the first half of 2026, health authorities said Friday.
Kennedy Lishimpi, permanent secretary for technical services at the Ministry of Health, said during a press briefing in Lusaka, the country's capital, that the country recorded 700 suspected cases from January to June this year, of which 119 were laboratory-confirmed
He added that 92 patients are currently admitted to health facilities.
While noting that cases have been reported in several parts of the country, Lishimpi said the western part of the country has emerged as the epicenter of the current outbreak, with 329 suspected cases reported.
"Analysis of the confirmed cases shows that 87.4 percent of cases have an unknown or missing immunization history, highlighting significant immunity gaps within affected communities," he said.
Lishimpi said the government has activated the national public health emergency operations center to coordinate a comprehensive response across all affected districts.
According to him, the ministry will conduct targeted vaccination campaigns in the affected districts and surrounding high-risk areas for children aged six months to nine years.
