Deadly measles outbreak kills 42 in northeast Nigeria

The deadly measles outbreak in northeast Nigeria has claimed the killed 42 people in just over a week, sparking concerns among health officials.

The outbreak has predominantly affected two local government areas in Adamawa state, where nearly 200 suspected cases have been identified.

Health commissioner Felix Tangwami has issued a statement acknowledging the severity of the situation and confirming that measles vaccines have been swiftly deployed to the affected areas. Field teams are working tirelessly to contain the spread of the virus and prevent further casualties.

Measles is a highly contagious airborne virus that primarily impacts children under the age of five. The disease can be prevented through the administration of two doses of vaccine.

Early symptoms include high fever, cough, and runny nose, often followed by a distinctive rash covering the body.

The World Health Organization reports that over 50 million measles deaths have been prevented through vaccination efforts since 2000. However, ongoing insecurity in northern Nigerian states has led to disruptions in vaccination campaigns, leaving children vulnerable to preventable diseases.

The presence of armed groups like Boko Haram, who have been active in Nigeria since 2009, has displaced over two million people and created a dire humanitarian crisis in the region.

Additionally, criminal gangs in the northwest have further exacerbated security challenges, hindering access to vital healthcare services.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also had a detrimental impact on the country’s health system, leading to disruptions in vaccination programs.

Organizations like Doctors Without Borders (MSF) have raised concerns about the overall state of healthcare in Nigeria and the need for continued support to combat infectious diseases like measles.

In a statement earlier this year, MSF highlighted the concerning rise in measles cases in Nigeria due to the failure of public health actors to achieve the necessary 95 percent vaccination rate.

During the last quarter of the year, MSF treated nearly 4,000 patients affected by the virus, with a significant portion of them located in rural communities around Maiduguri.

Jombo Tochukwu-Okoli, the medical activity manager at Gwange Pediatric Hospital in Borno, emphasized the challenges faced by health workers in reaching these areas.

The highly contagious nature of the virus was also emphasized, with one infected child capable of spreading it to up to 12 unvaccinated children. This underscores the urgent need for increased vaccination efforts and improved access to healthcare for vulnerable populations in Nigeria.