Source: Ogalah Dunamis

Over 1,600 suspected measles cases have been reported across the 11 wards of the Zurmi LGA since early May, with 24 deaths recorded.

Picture used to illustrate Measles

Zurmi, Zamfara State – As measles continues to claim the lives of children in northwestern Nigeria, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has launched an emergency measles vaccination campaign in Zurmi Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State. The six-day campaign, launched Tuesday, follows reports of 24 child deaths and over 1,600 suspected cases across 11 wards in the LGA.

According to MSF’s Head of Mission in Nigeria, Abdullahi Ali, the outbreak is disproportionately affecting unvaccinated children under the age of five, many of whom are also battling malnutrition and other health complications like eye infections and malaria.

“Children in Zurmi are facing a double crisis of disease and hunger,” said Mr. Ali. “Malnutrition is weakening their immune systems, making them more vulnerable to measles and its complications.”

Alarming Health Indicators

MSF says the current death rate from the outbreak stands at 1.2%, and a nutrition screening conducted in June 2024 revealed that:

• 1 in 4 children in Zurmi is undernourished
• Over 4% are suffering from severe acute malnutrition — far above the World Health Organization’s emergency threshold

Emergency Strategy: Vaccines and Mobile Clinics

To halt the spread of the disease, MSF is vaccinating children aged 6 months to 5 years, using both fixed sites and mobile teams to reach remote and underserved communities.

The goal is to vaccinate at least 95% of the target population to achieve herd immunity. This comes after a previous vaccination round in June 2024 reached only 59% of eligible children due to vaccine shortages and security concerns in parts of Zamfara.

Communities worst hit by the outbreak include:

• Zurmi Town
• Dauran Birnin Tsaba
• Mayasa Kuturu
• Rukudawa

These areas have limited access to routine vaccination services and inadequate healthcare infrastructure, making timely outbreak response difficult.

MSF’s Holistic Approach

During the campaign, MSF teams are also conducting nutritional screening using MUAC (Mid-Upper Arm Circumference) tools. Children found to be severely malnourished are immediately referred to treatment centres, including the MSF-supported unit at Zurmi General Hospital.

“This is not just about measles—it’s a broader public health emergency,” Ali added. “We need coordinated support to address both vaccination gaps and nutrition deficiencies.”

Call for Urgent Support

MSF has called on government bodies, health partners, and international donors to:

• Support the ongoing vaccination drive
• Improve access to routine immunisation in hard-to-reach areas
• Strengthen nutrition programs in vulnerable communities

“Every child deserves the right to basic healthcare. We urge stakeholders to act swiftly to protect children from preventable diseases like measles,” the MSF mission chief concluded.