Nigeria: 2019 Measles

[Shiloh]

Source: http://cajnewsafrica.com/2019/05/27/75-kids-dead-in-nigeria-measles-eruption/

75 kids dead in Nigeria measles eruption
from EMEKA OKONKWO in Abuja, Nigeria

ABUJA, (CAJ News) ? NIGERIA has embarked on one of the biggest vaccination campaigns against measles following the death of at least 75 children from the disease this year.

All 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory are affected but most deaths have occurred at camps housing thousands of civilians displaced by the notorious Boko Haram terror group northeast of the country.

Borno, which is the base of the Islamist militants, is the most affected state with 15 237 suspected measles cases.

Government and humanitarian agencies have vaccinated more than 1,2 million children aged between six months and six years...

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/just-...ildren-in-kaduna-community-in-two-months.html

JUST IN: Measles kill dozens of children in Kaduna community in two months By Mohammed Yaba, Kaduna | Published Date Jul 21, 2019 19:32 PM

Residents of Wusar community of Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State are worried following an outbreak of measles that have killed dozens of children in two months in the area.
Most of the victims are children from 2 ? 3 years old, according to locals in the area.
The villagers told our reporter that they did not know the actual cause of the outbreak that kills their children on daily basis.
Daily Trust gathered that the outbreak, which began in May, led to the death of about a hundred children, according to the village head, Alhassan Hamidu.
He said most of the children were buried without being taken to hospital because there was no functional hospital in the remote village.
The village head appealed to the government to come to their rescue and save their children from dying...

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/heal...across-northeast-nigeria-in-seven-months.html


Measles: 100 dead, 21,000 affected across Northeast Nigeria in seven months
July 31, 2019Agency Report

States in the North East part of Nigeria recorded no fewer than 21,011 cases of measles with 100 deaths in the past few months.

A survey by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) indicated that while cases were recorded in Bauchi, Borno, Yobe and Gombe states, officials in Adamawa and Jigawa said no such cases were recorded in their states.

In Borno, where the highest number of cases was recorded, officials said security challenges in the state made it difficult to address the situation.

The Director of Borno State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Sule Mele, said 18,204 measles cases were recorded in the state from January till date, with 93 deaths, mostly children.

He attributed the outbreak of the disease to inability of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to access healthcare services due to the ongoing
conflict between security forces and Boko Haram insurgents.

Mr Mele, a medical doctor, noted that there was high prevalence of the disease in ?trapped? communities due to the lack of access to vaccination.

He added that the lack of access to crisis-prone areas was a major obstacle
militating against effective response to the disease.

According to him, the primary healthcare agency has, however, scaled up activities to enhance surveillance, case management, laboratory services, social mobilisation and vaccination in some affected areas in spite of the challenges...

 

[Pathfinder]

Outbreaks and Emergencies Bulletin, Week 39: 23 - 29 September 2019
...

Measles Nigeria

54 902 Cases

275 Deaths

0.5% CFR

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The number of measles cases reported in several states steadily
continued to rise in Nigeria from the beginning of 2019, when
approximately 500 cases were reported in epidemiological week 2
(week ending 13 January 2019). With the number of cases rising to
over 2 000 per week as of week 11 (week ending 17 March 2019), a
National Measles Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) was activated
on the 11 March 2019 to coordinate a nationwide response to the
outbreak. Multiple reactive vaccination campaigns have been conducted
to contain the spread of the outbreak, in addition to deployment of
multi-disciplinary Rapid Response Teams (RRTs), intensification
of surveillance activities and laboratory diagnostics and review of
treatment protocols.

Between 1 and 31 August 2019, 1 336 suspected measles cases were
reported from all 36 states of the country. The majority were reported
from Katsina (238), Borno (234), Yobe (161), Sokoto (83) and Kaduna
(56) states, accounting for 58% of cases reported in the period. The
number of cases reported weekly has been on a downward trend
since epidemiological week 18 (week ending on 5 May 2019) when
over 2 000 cases were reported compared to week 34 (week ending
25 August 2019) when less than 500 cases were reported. As of week
37 (week ending 15 September 2019), the total number of suspected
cases reported was 54 902 with 275 associated deaths (CFR 0.5%).
So far, 2 089 (21.3%) of 9 797 serum samples were IgM positive for
measles. The most affected age group is children aged 12 months to
59 months.

The national immunization coverage for the first dose of the measles
containing vaccine (MCV1) in Nigeria has remained below the
prescribed 80% target in the past ten years. According to the annual
WHO and UNICEF estimates of national immunization coverage
(WUENIC), the coverage has remained at 65% since 2016.

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

The multi-agency EOC that coordinated the response from 11
March 2019 was de-escalated in June 2019 and replaced with a
measles surveillance technical working group (MSTWG) which
closely monitors activities at state level through data review and
follow up phone calls to affected states.

Rapid response teams (RRT)were deployed to affected states to
support intensified surveillance, reactive vaccination and other
response activities. The first RRTs were deployed to Borno,
Katsina, Ogun and Bauchi states in epi weeks 5 and 6, 2019.
Another RRT was deployed to Yobe and Katsina states on 25
March 2019. The last RRT was deployed to Kaduna in week 30
(week ending 28 July 2019).

Phase II of the measles reactive vaccination campaign was
conducted in Borno state in May 2019 targeting children between
the ages of 6 months and 5 years.

Laboratory capacity has been improved as testing of blood
samples is ongoing in three national measles laboratories across
the geopolitical zones.

An Incidence Action Plan was developed to address gaps
in response mainly with measles surveillance. Weekly data
submission using an updated line-list has been ongoing from all
states.

Since the onset of their activities, WHO-supported community
health champions have sensitized 89 935 people in 49 582
households and identified and reported 123 suspected cholera
cases. TV and radio programmes and jingles on cholera
prevention messages, supported by UNICEF, are ongoing.

SITUATION INTERPRETATION

The measles outbreak has been ongoing in Nigeria with each of the 36 states reporting
cases. Over 77.4% of cases reported in 2019 have been reported from eight northern
states, some of which have the lowest immunization coverages in the country. Though
the number of cases reported weekly has steadily declined since week 18 (week
ending on 5 May 2019), many districts have remained above the epidemic threshold
for the disease. The improvements in enhanced surveillance, laboratory diagnostic
capacity, case management and risk communication under the leadership of the
national measles EOC and Surveillance Technical Working group (MSTWG) should be
sustained to fully interrupt the spread of the outbreak. Furthermore, with the national
immunization coverage remaining low, intensification of activities to improve routine
and supplementary immunization using measles containing vaccines is paramount.

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/328264/OEW39-2329092019.pdf

https://www.afro.who.int/node/11807