Since 2000, over 50 million measles deaths have been prevented through vaccinations, as per the World Health Organization. However, challenges in vaccination campaigns arise due to security concerns in northern Nigerian states. Groups like Boko Haram and criminal gangs have intensified these issues, forcing millions of people to flee their homes and contributing to one of the world’s ongoing humanitarian crises.
The COVID-19 pandemic has further strained Nigeria’s health system and vaccination programs, as reported by Doctors Without Borders (MSF). This disruption has resulted in a rise in measles cases, with thousands of patients being treated between October and December. Health workers face challenges in reaching rural communities, which hampers vaccination efforts and contributes to virus spread among unvaccinated children.
To suppress measles and prevent future outbreaks, MSF emphasized the need for a 95 percent vaccination rate. In response to this crisis, officials in Adamawa state reported at least 42 deaths out of nearly 200 suspected cases of measles. The outbreak primarily affected two local government areas, leading health commissioner Felix Tangwami to announce that measles vaccines had been distributed to the affected areas and field teams were working tirelessly to contain the situation. Measles is a highly contagious virus that mainly affects children under five years old but can be prevented with two doses of vaccine. Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, rashes, and bumps all over the body.