Zambia’s Ministry of Health has confirmed 119 laboratory-confirmed measles cases out of 700 suspected infections recorded nationally between January and June 2026, with Western Province emerging as the epicentre of the outbreak.
Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Dr Kennedy Lishimpi told a Lusaka media briefing that Western Province accounted for the highest burden, with 329 suspected cases, while Lusaka, North-Western and Southern provinces also reported active cases. The national tally includes 92 hospital admissions and four deaths linked to the outbreak — three in Western Province’s Shang’ombo and Sikongo districts, and one in Lusaka district. Dr Lishimpi said 87.4 percent of confirmed patients had unknown or incomplete immunisation histories, pointing to significant gaps in vaccine coverage among the affected population.
In response, the Ministry has fully activated the National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre under the Zambia National Public Health Institute to coordinate a multi-sectoral response. An emergency Measles-Rubella immunisation campaign targeting children aged 6 months to 9 years is running in Sikongo, Shang’ombo, Chavuma, Chirundu and Lusaka from July 6 to July 11, alongside continued routine immunisation elsewhere in the country. Rapid response teams are being deployed within 24 hours of any confirmed case to investigate and contain further spread.
World Health Organisation representative Dr Otipo Shikanga commended the government for transparently declaring the outbreak, calling early detection and reporting critical to protecting communities, and pledged continued technical and surveillance support. UNICEF Zambia’s immunisation specialist noted a rising share of cases among children over age five. Officials confirmed Zambia has recorded no cases of Ebola or cholera, and reiterated that the measles vaccine remains free at all government health facilities as part of the national routine immunisation programme.
Sources: Mwebantu — Zambia records 119 confirmed measles cases | Zambia Monitor — 119 measles cases, four dead | ZNBC — Measles outbreak with 119 confirmed cases
