KAMPALA, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Uganda has strengthened surveillance across the country after 40 districts were reportedly hit by a measles outbreak, a top health official said on Tuesday.

Sarah Opendi, minister of state for health, told Parliament that the ministry has provided vaccines and other antigens for routine immunization.

Opendi said since October, two death cases of measles have been registered and 141 other cases managed.

According to the ministry, the affected districts are in north western, western and central regions.

Measles, according to the ministry of health, is one of the killer diseases among children below five years. The others include tetanus, whooping cough, diphtheria, polio and tuberculosis.

Measles is a highly infectious viral disease that spreads through coughs and sneezes and can cause serious illness, according to the ministry. The symptoms of the disease include a high fever, cough, runny nose and red watery eyes.