CurrentReport Blog No fewer than ten children have died due to a suspected measles outbreak in Damangaza community, Lokogoma District, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. This was disclosed by Mr. James Budebo, head of the Damangaza community, during a one-day outreach programme on Friday.
The outreach programme was organized by Primary Health Care, Damangaza, in collaboration with the Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC), a grassroots organization dedicated to health interventions in underserved communities.
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection characterized by fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a distinctive rash. It can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis, particularly in young children and individuals with weakened immune systems.
Mr. Budebo emphasized the critical importance of vaccination in preventing measles and its complications, underscoring the need for widespread immunization to protect the community. He noted that the recent deaths were due to the suspected outbreak and highlighted the ongoing challenges to vaccine acceptance within the community.
Mrs. Chika Offor, CEO of VNDC, described the outreach programme as a crucial step towards addressing the health crisis in Damangaza. She stated that the initiative aimed to provide immediate assistance while laying the groundwork for long-term community resilience. Efforts are ongoing to promote vaccine accessibility and provide clear, accurate information to address community concerns and misconceptions.
“The deaths due to measles are preventable,” Offor said, reaffirming the organization’s commitment to supporting community dialogue on vaccination and public health measures.
Ms. Longtang Shawen, a health worker at PHC Damangaza, highlighted that the outbreak has exacerbated the community’s ongoing challenges with limited healthcare access. She stressed the importance of education in empowering the community about vaccine-preventable diseases, sanitation, and hygiene. Shawen reiterated that vaccination is crucial in preventing measles outbreaks, protecting individuals, and ensuring community-wide immunity.
Chief Bello Musa, head of Damangaza Hausawa, mentioned that the Public Health Department, FCT, had been notified of the situation, with visits made two weeks ago.
Responding to the situation, Dr. Teresa Nwachukwu, FCT Epidemiologist, stated that she would investigate the current outbreak.
Data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reveal that by December 2023, states such as Abia, Anambra, Jigawa, Edo, Lagos, and Bauchi accounted for a significant portion of reported measles cases. Abia reported 46 cases, Anambra 23, Jigawa 21, Edo 18, Lagos 17, and Bauchi 14, collectively accounting for 64.6% of the 215 suspected measles cases. Among these, 33 cases were confirmed, with 43 cases discarded and 139 pending classification.
From January to December 2023, major contributors to the 19,470 suspected measles cases included Borno with 7,635 cases, Yobe with 1,325, Ogun with 611, and Zamfara with 601. Lagos also reported a significant number with 563 cases. Out of these suspected cases, 11,433 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 of all confirmed cases. A total of 89 deaths were reported among confirmed cases, with 73% of these cases being individuals who had not received any measles vaccine (‘zero dose’).
By the end of 2023, outbreaks were reported in 8 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across 7 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.
