Ten children have tragically lost their lives due to a suspected measles outbreak in the Damangaza community located in the Lokogoma District of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
This information was shared by Mr. James Budebo, the Head of the Damangaza community, during a one-day outreach program conducted in Abuja on Friday.
The event was organized by PHC Damangaza and the Vaccine Network for Disease Control, an organization focused on health interventions in underserved communities.
Measles, a highly contagious viral infection characterized by symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a distinctive rash, poses serious health risks such as pneumonia and encephalitis, particularly in young children and individuals with weakened immune systems.
Budebo emphasized the importance of vaccination in preventing measles and its complications, highlighting the necessity for widespread immunization to safeguard the community.
He attributed the recent deaths to the suspected measles outbreak and mentioned challenges related to vaccine acceptance within the community.
Mrs. Chika Offor, CEO of VNDC, emphasized the significance of the one-day outreach program in addressing the health crisis in Damangaza.
The initiative aimed to provide immediate assistance and establish a foundation for long-term community resilience.
Efforts were focused on enhancing vaccine accessibility, offering accurate information to dispel community concerns and misconceptions, and promoting dialogue on vaccination and public health measures.
Health Worker Ms. Longtang Shawen from PHC, Damangaza, noted that the outbreak had exacerbated existing healthcare access limitations within the community.
She emphasized the importance of education in empowering community members about vaccine-preventable diseases, sanitation, and hygiene.
Shawen stressed the critical role of vaccination in preventing measles outbreaks, protecting individuals, and ensuring community-wide immunity, urging residents to accept vaccination for disease prevention and to safeguard vulnerable populations.
Bello Musasaid, the Head of Damangaza Hausawa, informed about the situation to the Public Health Department, FCT, and neurologist Dr. Teresa Nwachukwu assured to investigate the current scenario.
Data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention indicated a considerable number of reported measles cases in states such as Abia, Anambra, Jigawa, Edo, Lagos, and Bauchi by December 2023.
Among these reported cases, a significant portion was confirmed, highlighting the pressing need for vaccination efforts and public health measures to combat measles outbreaks across the country.
As of December 2023, states such as Abia (46), Anambra (23), Jigawa (21), Edo (18), Lagos (17), and Bauchi (14) collectively accounted for 64.6% of the 215 suspected measles cases reported.
Among these, 33 cases (15.4%) were confirmed, with no clinically compatible cases, while 43 cases (20%) were discarded and 139 cases (64.6%) were pending classification.
During the period from January to December 2023, major contributors to the 19,470 suspected measles cases included Borno (7,635), Yobe (1,325), Ogun (611), and Zamfara (601), with Lagos also significant at 563 cases, making up 52.2 per cent of the total.
Of these suspected cases, 11,433 (58.72%) were confirmed, comprising 1,861 lab-confirmed, 3,120 epi-linked, and 6,452 clinically compatible cases.
The age group 9 – 59 months accounted for 7,317 (64%) of all confirmed cases.
A total of 89 deaths (CFR = 1.1%) were reported among confirmed cases, with 8,380 (73%) of these cases being individuals who had not received any measles vaccine (‘zero dose’).
By December 31, 2023, outbreaks were reported in eight LGAs across seven states, bringing the cumulative number of affected LGAs to 184 across 35 states for the year, with only FCT and Osun States not reporting any confirmed measles outbreaks,” it explained.
According to NCDC data, the outbreak highlights the urgent need for vaccination campaigns and public health measures to combat measles across Nigeria.
