Measles cases drop significantly, but Katsina and Jigawa remain hotspots
On Wednesday, March 5, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported 627 suspected measles cases across 30 states and 213 Local Government Areas (LGAs) as of January 31, 2025. This is a significant decrease from the 2,157 cases reported in January 2024.
Dr. Jide Idris, the Director-General of NCDC, shared this update in Abuja, emphasizing the progress made in combating the disease. He noted that while the number of cases has dropped, the situation remains serious, with some areas still facing high numbers of infections.
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads through respiratory droplets, often when an infected person coughs or sneezes. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the virus can stay in the air or on surfaces for hours, making it easy to spread. Symptoms start with fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, followed by a rash that spreads across the body. In severe cases, measles can lead to complications such as pneumonia, blindness, brain inflammation (encephalitis), and even death, especially among unvaccinated children.
In the latest report, 112 of the suspected cases (about 17.86%) have been confirmed in the laboratory, with no deaths recorded so far. This marks an improvement from the same period in 2024 when there were 23 confirmed measles deaths.
Katsina, Jigawa, Akwa Ibom, Kebbi, and Enugu states had the highest number of suspected cases, making up over half of the national total. In particular, Katsina had 102 suspected cases, while Jigawa recorded 84.
Dr. Idris revealed that 81.3% of confirmed cases were among individuals who had not received the measles vaccine, showing a clear gap in immunization coverage. He also shared that 46.4% of confirmed cases occurred in children aged 9 to 59 months.
As of January 31, 38 LGAs in 18 states were experiencing active measles outbreaks, with Katsina leading with seven affected LGAs. Other states with multiple outbreaks included Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, and Sokoto.
Dr. Idris stressed that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles. He encouraged parents to ensure their children receive the recommended two doses of the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine, which are given at 9 months and 15 months, according to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) guidelines.
To tackle the ongoing outbreaks, the NCDC is focusing on improving routine immunization, early detection, and rapid response to suspected cases. Public health awareness campaigns are also being launched to encourage vaccination and prevent further spread.
Dr. Idris urged Nigerians to stay informed through official health updates and participate in vaccination campaigns to help eliminate measles in the country.
