A measles outbreak in Adamawa State has killed at least 42 lives in just over a week, according to Health Commissioner Felix Tangwami.
The outbreak has primarily affected two local government areas, with nearly 200 suspected cases identified. Measles vaccines have been distributed to the areas, and field teams are working to contain the situation.
Measles is a highly contagious airborne virus that predominantly affects children under five. It can be prevented with two doses of vaccine.
Early symptoms include high fever, cough, and runny nose, followed by rashes and bumps on the body. According to the World Health Organization, vaccinations have prevented over 50 million measles deaths since 2000.
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However, insecurity in northern Nigeria has disrupted vaccination campaigns, leaving children vulnerable.
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The Boko Haram insurgency has displaced over two million people since 2009, creating a humanitarian crisis. Criminal gangs have further exacerbated security concerns in the region.
Also, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted health systems and vaccination programs in some areas, according to Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
MSF reported that last year’s measles outbreak affected an alarming number of people due to the inability to achieve the required 95 per cent vaccination rate.
Between October and December, MSF treated 3,965 patients. Accessing rural communities has been challenging for health workers, particularly around Maiduguri.
Unvaccinated children are highly susceptible to the virus, with one infected child potentially spreading it to 9-12 others.
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