Nigeria: The Anambra Government has confirmed the death of 14 children caused due to the outbreak of measles in nine local government areas of the state. This was disclosed by Dr Afam Obidike, the health commissioner, at a conference held in Awka on Wednesday, 25 May 2022.
The total number of people affected by the measles outbreak was 414.
Obidike also mentioned the affected local government areas, including Anambra East, Ayamelum, Anambra West, Ihiala, Nnewi North, Idemili North, Onitsha North Oyi and Njikoka.
The commissioner that support from the United Nations Children Emergency Fund and the World Health Organisation has helped the state has helped in controlling the spread of disease.
Dr Afam further said that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) told about the Measles outbreak in nine LGAs in the state in March.
The disease was spread from nine to 13 LGAs. Still, with some help from WHO, authorities started taking some action and activating surveillance and the emergency response team in the affected regions.
After all the protection and emergency services, authorities and health officials could cure several patients, but 14 children died from the Measles outbreak out of 414 cases.
Dr Obidike said, “We need to be careful of as the case fatality is high, about 48%.”
He further stressed that to stop the disease from spreading, 19,609 unvaccinated children from age 0-to 59 months had been vaccinated.
He saw the effect of COVID-19 that affected the routine immunisation in the state last year as a significant reason for the outbreak.
The commissioner has described measles as a viral infection that is usually common among children under the age of five but is curable via the administration of vaccines.
Further commenting, the Executive Secretary of Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Chioma Ezenyimulu, also revealed that plans were underway to begin a standalone measles vaccination campaign in the state.
The campaign will cover around all 21 local government areas of the Anambra State.
