Despite the availability of safe and effective live attenuated vaccines, measles continues to be endemic in many developing countries. Control and elimination of measles will be especially difficult in East Africa, because of its limited infrastructure and political instability. We have studied diagnostic and epidemiological aspects of measles in suburban Khartoum, Sudan. Prospective studies were carried out in a cohort of clinically diagnosed measles cases and in a cohort of newborns, which were both followed up for 2 years. The studies intended to provide a rational basis for improvement of measles vaccination strategies, and strengthen measles research infrastructure in Khartoum.